Fruitridge Bridge opens in Walker with added lanes, 14-foot pedestrian path and $25 million in state funding

Walker — The Fruitridge Bridge and interchange in Walker officially opened this month after a months-long modernization that added vehicle lanes, a 14-foot pedestrian path and safety-focused ramp reconfiguration, city and state officials said.

John Richard, Michigan Department of Transportation, said the roadway “went from 2 lanes to, 5. So there's 2 lanes in each direction plus that center left turn lane and a big 14 foot wide pedestrian path on the west side and then a regular type, width of a sidewalk on the east side.” The upgrades are intended to improve vehicle flow and nonmotorized connections along the corridor.

Why it matters: The project, officials said, stitches together multiple improvements — interchange reconstruction, additional center turn lanes and an extended nonmotorized trail — that officials expect to reduce vehicle conflicts, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and support nearby businesses that rely on the route for deliveries and customers.

Officials said the work was financed in part by a $25,000,000 state grant plus…