Stadium Drive at US-131 and Drake Road Reopens Thursday in Kalamazoo

After two construction seasons, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has completed the reconstruction of U.S. 131 Business Route (BR)/Stadium Drive at U.S. 131 and Drake Road in Kalamazoo. All lanes and ramps are expected to reopen Thursday, Sept. 3.

The intersection and interchange are part of one of Kalamazoo's most vital economic corridors. U.S. 131 BR/Stadium Drive offers efficient access to Western Michigan University, downtown Kalamazoo and several businesses.

Construction started in April 2014 with the reconstruction of the Stadium Drive intersection with Drake Road. Over two construction seasons, MDOT invested $23.5 million to rebuild that intersection and the Stadium Drive bridge over U.S. 131.

"It's been a long but successful project," said MDOT Southwest Region Engineer Kimberly Avery. "Traffic already is moving better through the new interchange and intersection, and it will only get better as people get more familiar and comfortable with them."

The new single-point urban interchange (SPUI) configuration is the same design used at the I-94 interchange with Westnedge Avenue in Portage. The elimination of the loop ramps and weave/merge lanes will improve safety and traffic flow at the U.S. 131 interchange at Stadium Drive.

The new Stadium Drive intersection at Drake Road features dual turn lanes from southbound Drake Road to eastbound Stadium Drive, and from westbound Stadium Drive to northbound Drake Road. Other improvements include lane alignment and turn lanes, all intended to make traffic flow safer and smoother.