The Fruit Ridge Bridge and interchange in Walker officially opened following a ribbon-cutting celebration, city and state officials said. Michigan Department of Transportation and City of Walker staff described a project that widened the crossing to five lanes (two travel lanes in each direction plus a center left‑turn lane), added a 14‑foot wide pedestrian and bicycle path on the west side, and realigned ramps with new mast‑arm traffic signals to reduce conflict points.

City of Walker engineer Scott Connors said the non‑motorized path was in use on the first day, with a commuter bicyclist observed using the route in early morning darkness, and stressed the path’s transportation function beyond recreation. "This is not just recreation, it's transportation," Connors said.

John Richard of the Michigan Department of Transportation said the project combined multiple scopes — bridge replacement, interchange reconfiguration, non‑motorized connections to Kinney and a center turn lane to serve businesses north of the railroad. "It went from two lanes to five," Richard said, noting the pedestrian connections are a major benefit.

Why it matters: Officials cited safety, access and regional economic benefits. Project leaders said the old bridge’s narrow hourglass geometry and 1960s era shoulders created pinch points for pedestrians, buses, trucks and cars; the new alignment and signals remove the offset ramp conflicts that contributed to queuing and crash risk. Speakers also emphasized regional scope, saying state funds helped make the modernization possible for Walker, nearby Alpine and surrounding communities.

Funding and delivery: Officials said a $25,000,000 legislative grant, together with a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for the pedestrian path, provided the financing to move beyond a limited rehabilitation to a full modernization. City staff and contractors coordinated extended closures and a full weekend westbound closure of U.S. 96 to finish paving and paint markings; the project opened ahead of schedule (officials cited an opening at about 4 a.m. the day before the episode) and was reported to be on budget.

Community impact and outreach: City staff described a five‑mile detour for some drivers during construction that shifted traffic to 3 Mile Road, Walker Avenue, 4 Mile Road and some rural Ottawa County routes. Officials said they used door‑to‑door contacts, a project email list, school coordination and social media to inform residents and businesses; the city characterized public response as largely supportive and reported minimal complaints.

Local partners and recognition: The ribbon cutting included two busloads of high school band students and local education leaders; the host noted Nate Brodron (principal) and superintendent Jerry Hopkins as engaged community partners. Officials publicly thanked the contractor named in the transcript for rapid delivery and cleanup.

Design details and expected outcomes: The new configuration adds a center left‑turn lane to improve access for businesses north of the railroad, non‑motorized improvements wrapping to Kinney, and conventional ramp alignment with mast‑arm signals to simplify movements for approaching drivers and reduce left‑turn stacking. Officials said these changes are intended to improve safety and mobility for decades.

What officials did not specify: The podcast did not provide the contractor's legal business name beyond the name used during the interview, specific construction contract amounts, a detailed project timeline beyond "about 7–8 months," or a precise list of funding sources and match percentages beyond the cited grants.

Closing: Officials and the host framed the project as a multi‑party effort — state, city, contractors, schools and businesses — that delivered improved access, a dedicated multiuse path and interchange safety improvements for Walker and the surrounding region.