Business Routes of U.S. Route 131 - Big Rapids, Michigan

Big Rapids, Michigan

Business US Highway 131 (BUS US 131) is a 7.87-mile (12.67 km) business route running through downtown Big Rapids. Currently, BUS US 131 follows Perry and State streets, and 19 Mile Road.

The southern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 139 at an interchange where M-20 merges onto US 131 southbound west of downtown Big Rapids. The northern terminus of BUS US 131 is at US 131 Exit 142 at an interchange with 19 Mile Road and B-96 north of Big Rapids.

Previous to the construction of the US 131 freeway in Mecosta County, US 131 was routed north from the Grand Rapids area on Northland Drive and State Street in the Big Rapids area. |M-20 intersected US 131 in downtown Big Rapids. In 1983 with the completion of the US 131 freeway north to 19 Mile Road, US 131 then proceeded up the freeway alignment, turning east on 19 Mile Road to Northland Drive and returning to its previous alignment north to Reed City. BUS US 131 was created to run from exit 139 off US 131 along M-20 over Perry and State streets to the corner with Michigan Street in downtown Big Rapids. From there, BUS US 131 continued northward to 19 Mile Road and US 131.

The US 131 freeway was completed north of 19 Mile Road in 1986. As this time, BUS US 131 was extended over the 19 Mile Road portion of US 131 to connect with its parent route at exit 142 northwest of Big Rapids.