The Kent County Grand River Greenway is Kent County Parks’ effort to construct a trail along the Grand River through Kent County, tying the existing Grand River Greenway in Ottawa County to the White Pine Trail, the Grand River Valley Rail Trail in Ionia, and eventually the CIS Trail.
One crucial point of this trail is crossing Northland Drive (M-44), a busy road connecting northern Grand Rapids, Plainfield Charter Township, and the City of Rockford. Going under this major arterial was the safest option for the trail’s continuity.
This crossing under Northland Drive just south of Rogue River Road/7 Mile Road is a crucial piece to safely connecting existing and planned trails that will all come together as part of the Grand River Greenway, a continuous non-motorized pathway that follows the Grand River through Kent County.
The South Rogue River Trail is the path being constructed west of this crossing to the White Pine Trail.
This project involves coordination among multiple agencies, including Kent County Parks, Ottawa County, Plainfield Charter Township, MDOT, and Kent County Road Commission.
Construction will require a 6-day closure of Northland Drive to install the crossing. 24-hour construction shifts will be utilized to make this closure as short as possible.
Construction is anticipated to start on or about May 4. The contractor will only need to intermittently close the northbound shoulder of Northland Drive between Cannonsburg Road/West River Drive and Rogue River Road/7 Mile Road during the first phase of the project.