Part Of S-Curve To Be Re-Built

If you regularly drive the U.S. 131 S-curve in downtown Grand Rapids you may have noticed the yellow "Bump Ahead" signs recently posted along the highway.

That "bump" is an expansion joint that will be replaced soon by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

"It's a modular joint, which is a specialty item, so it takes longer to fabricate and deliver," said MDOT Spokesman John Richard. "We ordered the part in March and expect delivery in July."

The Grand Rapids Press reports that in addition to replacing the joint, MDOT also will redo a stretch of the highway approach, about 100 feet south of the expansion joint, he said.

"That's full-depth concrete replacement, so the work is quite extensive," he said.

"There really isn't a quick fix, alas the bump signs," he said.

Didn't MDOT rebuild the S-curve in 2000? Why is the replacement needed?

"The S-Curve was open to traffic in 2000. Eleven years is good for joint life. The other joints in the corridor will be replaced in 2014," Richard said.

The work will cost $430,000 and will be done over four weekends in August and two weekends in September.

All work will be done on weekends and nights and two lanes will maintained on U.S. 131 at all times, Richards said.

The completion date is September 19, which is just before the Sept. 21 start of the city's ArtPrize competition.