Caledonia residents who drive M-37 every day should expect longer commutes starting this week. The Michigan Department of Transportation is widening three miles of the highway into a four-lane boulevard, and the construction will reshape how traffic moves through the area for the next two years.

Construction starts June 6

MDOT officials told residents at a May 6 public meeting that major construction work begins the week of June 5, right after Caledonia Public School ends for the year. The timing is intentional. Officials want to minimize disruption during the school year.

"We're investing a lot to try to maintain the northbound and southbound M-37 traffic throughout construction by building it part width," said Thomas Sabin, projects and contract manager at the Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center.

The first phase focuses on the northbound roadway from 92nd Street north to just short of 76th Street. That work will run through the rest of the 2026 construction season.

84th Street closes for two months

Starting Saturday, June 6, 84th Street east of M-37 will close for two months. The closure includes the Cherry Valley intersection. MDOT is rebuilding that intersection as part of the wider project.

According to Sabin, crews plan to reconnect 84th Street to the new northbound M-37 by mid-August.

The 84th Street and Cherry Valley work is being done in partnership with the Kent County Road Commission. A new traffic signal will be installed at that intersection. Officials are also making grade improvements on the east side to reduce a hill and improve sight distance for drivers.

What the finished road will look like

The rebuilt M-37 will feature:

• Four-lane boulevard design with Michigan Left indirect left-turns
• New traffic signals
• Pedestrian paths
• Expanded capacity for growing traffic in the area

"This is not necessarily a completely new roadway, but we are building a brand new boulevard section. So, in a way, the function of the road is going to change from how it was before and we get to expand it," said Art Green, MDOT Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center Manager.

Green noted that this kind of project is rare for him after nearly 30 years with the department.

Year two comes in 2027

The second phase of construction is scheduled for 2027. That phase will move the entire southbound roadway from 76th Street down to 92nd Street and complete the boulevard concept across the full corridor.

Detours and side road concerns

About 40 residents attended the May 6 open house at the Caledonia Township Hall. Many asked about detours and whether side roads would see increased traffic.

"Some of the concerns are the detours and putting additional traffic on side roads," said Addison Bailey, assistant construction engineer with the Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center. "We explained the additional traffic should be the same amount of traffic because those specific detours are just for people wanting to go through that intersection. We will be maintaining one lane in each direction at all times."

Five years in the making

The project began its planning phase around 2021. Early work included environmental reviews, preliminary engineering, and utility relocations. Phase one prep work has included tree clearing and moving underground utilities out of the construction path.

"Right now we're probably working on solidly five years of work from early preliminary engineering all the way to where we are right now, turning dirt and starting doing the job," Green said.

For real-time traffic updates during construction, drivers can visit Michigan.gov/Drive.

Residential access and business access will be maintained throughout the project, according to MDOT officials.