U.S. Route 131 Business (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
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| BUS US 131 Business loop of the US Highway System |
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| Length: | 2.81 mi[1] (4.52 km) | ||||
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| Formed: | 1953[1] | ||||
| South end: |  US 131 & Wealthy St. in Grand Rapids Exit 87 |
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| Major junctions: |
 I-196 in downtown Grand Rapids |
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| North end: | US 131 & Leonard Ave. near Grand Rapids Exit 83B |
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| Counties: | Kent | ||||
| Major cities: | Grand Rapids | ||||
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BUS US 131 is a business route running through downtown Grand Rapids, in the United States. Currently, BUS US 131 follows Leonard, Division, and Oakes streets.
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[edit] Historical notes
[edit] Creation
The designation was created when US 131 was rerouted on the Grand Rapids "beltline system" in 1953. At the time, a Bypass US 131 (BYP US 131) designation was used on the beltine system. South Beltline Road (M-11/28th St.) and East Beltline Ave. were used to route BYP US 131. The mainline US 131 was rerouted over the path of BYP US 131 in 1953. The BUS US 131 moniker was used for the first time to designate the former routing of US 131 through the downtown area on Division and Plainfield avenues to East Beltline Ave.
[edit] 1962 changes
In early 1962, a freeway alignment was completed north from US 131 at 28th St. to Pearl St. As a result, BUS US 131 was rerouted on its southern end to use the new freeway alignment. The remainder of Division Ave. south of Oakes St. to 28th St. is removed from the BUS US 131 routing.
Later that year, US 131 would be moved onto the new freeway as another section opens connecting north from Pearl St. to the current I-196 (then I-96/M-21). The M-11 designation was left on 28th St., and East Beltine became M-44. This freeway connection allowed US 131 to continue north along the southern portion of BUS US 131 to connect to I-296. Running concurrently with I-296, US 131 connected to the current I-96 (then I-196). US 131 then turned east along I-96 to reconnect with East Beltline Ave. BUS US 131 is shortened on the northern end to use Leonard St. to connect back to I-296/US 131. It is also shortened along the southern end to the Oakes St. with the loss of the freeway routing supplanted by US 131.
[edit] Since 1962
November 1986 marked a transfer to smooth out the routing of the northern end of BUS US 131, eliminating some extra turns between Plainfield Ave. and Leonard St. The construction of the Van Andel Arena in 1995 and 1996 severed the connection for SB BUS US 131 to US 131. This gap was rejoined with the reconstruction of the "S-Curve" in 1999.
[edit] Termini
[edit] Northern Terminus
The northern terminus of Business US 131 is at US 131 Exit 87 Leonard Ave.
[edit] Southern Terminus
The southern terminus of Business US 131 is at US 131 Exit 83B just north of Wealthy St.
