Kent County Breaks Ground On Pedestrian Tunnel That Will Span 7 Lanes of Traffic

Groundbreaking work began Thursday on a new pedestrian tunnel that will connect the Grand River Greenway beneath one of the busiest roads in northern Kent County.

The tunnel will carry pedestrians, cyclists, and runners under Northland Drive at Rogue River Road in Plainfield Township. Construction is expected to finish by late fall 2026.

The project represents a major step forward for the Grand River Greenway, which aims to create an 85-mile trail network connecting Grand Haven to Lowell and beyond along the Grand River corridor.

By adding a tunnel under Northland Drive, we are removing what we saw as one of the biggest barriers for people running, walking, and biking the trail, and most importantly, we are creating a safe way to cross one of the busiest roads in northern Kent County without having to navigate seven lanes of traffic, said Kent County Parks Director Ben Swayze.

ARPA Funding Makes Greenway Vision Possible

The tunnel project is being funded through $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act money awarded through a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant to Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together multiple partners including Kent County, Plainfield Charter Township, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Kent County Road Commission, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and other community stakeholders.

County Administrator and Controller for Kent County Al Vanderberg noted the significance of the project for the region.

It is amazing to see people using some of the segments of trail that have been built in West Michigan already, and then knowing that we are really building a whole number of things this summer, next summer, and we will have much more of it available for people to use even by the end of 2027, Vanderberg said.

Creating a Path From Lake To City

The Grand River Greenway project spans from Grand Haven in Ottawa County to Lowell Township and beyond. The tunnel section runs along Blythefield Country Club in Plainfield Charter Township.

When complete, this new tunnel section will connect to the South Rogue River Trail and bridge a 23-mile stretch between Millennium Park and Lowell.

The Grand River Greenway is an 85-mile trail along the Grand River corridor connecting Grand Haven in Ottawa County to Lowell and beyond, Swayze said.

Benefits Beyond Recreation

Plainfield Township Supervisor Tom Coleman highlighted additional benefits the tunnel and trail system will bring to the area.

We have the annual Meijer Simply Give LPGA Tournament at Blythefield Country Club each June. This wonderful event is attended by tens of thousands of visitors and the tunnel and trail system will provide a much safer pedestrian access to the tournament, Coleman said.

The project is expected to be completed by 2031 when the entire Greenway network will be finished.

A Major Addition to West Michigan

Vanderberg emphasized the broader significance of the trail network for the state.

I think the Grand River Greenway is going to put Kent County and West Michigan on the national map in a new way, he said. Where else can you experience going from a great lake to the second biggest city in the state with all the amenities and everything along the trail, plus amazing natural areas, thousands of acres of parks in different jurisdictions? I think it is just going to be a phenomenal addition to West Michigan and the state and the nation.

The new tunnel section will provide a non-motorized trail along the east side of Northland Drive, linking to 7 Mile Road to the north and Cannonsburg Road to the south.