MDOT I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue interchange rebuilding project in Walker recognized nationally

Fast facts:

• MDOT's project to rebuild the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 in Walker has earned national recognition by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
• The project received AASHTO's Quality of Life/Community Development (Medium Project Category) award.
• The I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue project improves safety and operations for both vehicles and pedestrians.

WALKER, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) recent project to rebuild and widen the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 in the city of Walker, Kent County, has been recognized nationally for community development and improving quality of life in that area.

The project is one of 12 state department of transportation (DOT) projects in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin that won top regional honors in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) 2026 America's Transportation Awards competition. From bridging safer connections for pedestrians and bicyclists to deploying innovative high-water warning systems that help protect motorists during flooding events, these projects are strengthening communities by bolstering safety, mobility and quality of life. A record 127 nominations from 45 state DOTs were entered in this year's competition.

In partnership with the City of Walker, MDOT invested approximately $35 million to replace the original 1961 Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 and rebuild the interchange. A new nonmotorized path along Fruit Ridge Avenue and 3 Mile Road was also built, with trail connections on the north and south sides. The new structure and interchange have improved safety and traffic flow for vehicles and pedestrians in this growing area.

AASHTO has produced a video that highlights the project benefits and partnerships that helped earn the award.

"Receiving this recognition from AASHTO is a tremendous honor and a testament to what can happen when community partners all work together toward a common goal," said City of Walker Mayor Gary Carey Jr. "The Fruit Ridge Avenue/I-96 project was about much more than replacing a 60-year-old bridge. It removed a longstanding transportation bottleneck, improved safety and connectivity, and made a generational investment in an area that is critically important to Walker and the entire west Michigan economy."

"This project was special right from the beginning with the support we received from the community," said MDOT Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center Manager Art Green. "We already felt like this was a win but being recognized by our friends at AASHTO is a humbling honor."

The Michigan Legislature approved a $25 million grant (Public Act 1 of 2023) to help fund this critical infrastructure improvement project in west Michigan.