Will US-131 Reopen Before Labor Day Travel Rush?

On Tuesday, August 26, around 2pm a semi-truck carrying an oversized load struck the 146th Avenue overpass over southbound US-131, causing serious damage to several I-beams.

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Thankfully nobody was injured in the crash, but at least three of those I-beams were compromised leading police to close US-131’s southbound lanes.

People commuting to work this morning found themselves in a massive traffic jam that had reports of 2 hour delays while crews worked to replace the damage I-beams.

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With Labor Day weekend just a few days away, a lot of people will be hitting the road in Michigan which means the bridge needs to be repaired and the lanes reopened as soon as possible.

Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman (MDOT) John Richard told Wood TV 8 that crews will have to replace three beams on the 146th Avenue overpass in Dorr Township.

That means the bridge itself will remain closed until the beams are replaced, which could be sometime next year.

But Richard said MDOT was working as fast as possible in hopes of reopening the highway between 84th Street and 142nd Avenue for Labor Day weekend travel.

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How To Get Around The Closure

Southbound US-131 remains closed at the overpass, with traffic detoured onto 84th Street.

Drivers should plan for slowdowns and delays and are urged to use extra caution during the holiday rush.