Holiday Inn Express and Suites planned to open early summer 2019

Visitors to Cedar Springs and the surrounding areas next summer won’t have to travel far to stay in a hotel. West Michigan hotel developer and operator Belmont Lodging announced plans this week to construct a four-story, 76-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites near U.S.-131 and 17 Mile Road in Cedar Springs.

The hotel will be built on property at 14190 White Creek Avenue, across the street from Save-A-Lot.

According to the press release, market demand in northern Kent County and the understanding of the positive economic influence of a hotel motivated local investors to pursue the project.

On-site amenities will provide guests with a complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, an exercise room, indoor pool, and outdoor patio. The hotel’s location and easy access to downtown Grand Rapids will provide both corporate and leisure travelers a small town alternative when visiting the area.

They expect it to bring about 20 jobs to Cedar Springs. Construction is expected to start in September. 

Belmont Lodging also developed the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings and the AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Greenville.

Aaron Dault, 23, died early Sunday, when the car he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. Facebook photo.

Aaron Dault takes the ball upfield for Cedar Springs Varsity Soccer in 2010. Post file photo.

A 23-year-old Solon Township man died early Sunday morning in a one-car crash on White Creek Avenue.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, the crash occurred about 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning on White Creek Avenue, between 18 Mile and Wiersma, when the car that Aaron Lee Dault was driving veered off the roadway and struck a tree. Police reported that he died instantly. 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.

Aaron Dault, 23. Facebook photo.

Aaron is the son of Dean and Kara (Wiles) Dault, of Solon Township.

Aaron graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 2013, where he played varsity soccer and track. He was currently finishing his bachelor’s degree at Ferris State University. Aaron was also involved at his church, St. John Paul II Catholic Church here in Cedar Springs. According to his obituary, “he was adored by the parishioners and everyone he met. He will be remembered for his million dollar smile, holding the door open, and saying ‘hi’ to the people as they came for Mass.”

Click here to see Aaron’s obituary.

This property on the south side of Solon Rd near White Creek will be the site of a new retirement facility called The Brook. Photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

Come spring next year, seniors in Cedar Springs will have another new retirement home ready to be filled. The Brook of Cedar Springs, a new 42-unit facility that will offer both independent and assisted living, is currently being built on Solon Street, just east of White Creek Avenue.

“We are very excited to be coming to Cedar Springs in the spring of 2018,” said Kim Pappas, marketing and communications specialist for The Brook. She added that they will employ 15-20 people, and they will have a nurse on staff for 24-hour care.

“We offer the comfort of worry-free living,” she said. Pappas explained that there are many activities for the residents, three meals a day, a theater room, billiard room, and a van that will take residents to sporting events and other activities.

“We help them to be as independent as possible but we are still tailored to their specific needs,” she said.

The Brook has ten locations throughout Michigan, with Cedar Springs being the 11^th.

You can read more about them at www.brookretirement.com/.

If you use US-131 to travel to Cedar Springs from the north, you will need to get off at an alternate exit beginning Thursday, June 1. That’s when the southbound off ramp to 17 Mile closes for two weeks, until June 15. You can either get off at 22 Mile Rd in Sand Lake or 14 Mile Rd.

However, also on Thursday, June 1, ONLY—the local lane of southbound US131 will be closed from White Creek Avenue to 14 Mile from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while crews realign traffic control devices and place temporary pavement markings for a stage change. The ramps at 17 Mile Road (Exit 104) and 14 Mile Road (Exit 101) will also be closed during this time. The last exit before this closure will be Exit 110 for Sand Lake/22 Mile Road. The first exit after the closure will be Exit 97 for Rockford/10 Mile Road. The southbound US-131 express lane will remain open on the northbound side.

The work is weather dependent.

MDOT plans to reconstruct the stretch of US131 from south of 14 Mile to two miles north of where it crosses over White Creek Ave.

The road project many residents have hoped for finally begins this Thursday, April 13.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will invest $22 million to reconstruct northbound and southbound US-131 between 14 Mile Road and White Creek Avenue (just north of 17 Mile Road). Work also includes repairing three bridges, culvert and drainage improvements, new signs, and ramp reconstruction at 14 Mile Road and 17 Mile Road.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction with the use of temporary crossovers and a split-merge traffic shift. This configuration is scheduled to go into effect April 21. Intermittent ramp and lane closures will be used throughout the project.

Ramp closures for ramp reconstruction will be allowed for a maximum of 14 calendar days per ramp. Ramps to be reconstructed include all 17 Mile Rd ramps, northbound 14 Mile Rd on ramp, and southbound 14 Mile Rd off ramp.

Visit www.Michigan.gov/drive for updates and sign up to receive Kent County traffic notices via text or email.

MDOT plans to reconstruct the stretch of US131 from south of 14 Mile to two miles north of where it crosses over White Creek Ave.

Public meeting March 16 at Cedar Springs High School 4-6 p.m.

By Judy Reed

Are you tired of driving over the rough spots on US131 between 14 Mile and 17 Mile Road and wondering (probably for the millionth time) when they are going to fix this road? You won’t have to wonder much longer.

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced details on Friday, March 3, of their plans to reconstruct that stretch of highway. The project will begin on April 15 and should be open to traffic on November 5.

There will be a public informational meeting about the project at Cedar Springs High School, 204 E. Muskegon, in the cafeteria, on Thursday, March 16, from 4-6 p.m.

According to John Richard, spokesperson for MDOT, the construction influence area will begin with warning signs on US131 two miles south of 14 Mile and continue to two miles north of where it crosses over White Creek Avenue. The influence area will also include one mile east and west of intersection roads and ramps.

The work will include hot mix asphalt (HMA) reconstruction and rehabilitation of three bridges, including concrete curb, gutter and culvert, drainage, signing and pavement markings.

Traffic impact

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on US-131 with the use of temporary crossovers and a split-merge traffic shift. Southbound US-131 will have a single lane closure while maintaining one lane of traffic for one week to place top course of HMA. Northbound US-131 will have a single lane closure while maintaining one lane of traffic for one week to place top course of HMA.

Ramp closures

Ramp closures for ramp reconstruction will be allowed for a maximum of 14 calendar days per ramp. Ramps to be reconstructed include all 17 Mile Rd ramps, northbound 14 Mile Rd on ramp, and southbound 14 Mile Rd off ramp.

Detours when ramps are closed:  

• 17 Mile NB US-131 off ramp: drivers will get off at 14 Mile instead and take White Creek Ave. north.
• 17 Mile NB US-131 on ramp: Drivers will get on SB US-131 instead and get off at 14 Mile Rd, then back on to NB US-131.
• 17 Mile SB US-131 on ramp: drivers will take White Creek Ave to 14 Mile Rd. and get on SB US-131.
• 17 Mile SB US-131 off ramp: drivers will get off at 14 Mile Rd and back on to NB US-131.
• 14 Mile Rd NB US-131 on ramp: drivers will take White Creek Ave to 17 Mile Rd. and get on NB US-131.
• 14 Mile Rd SB US-131 off ramp: drivers will get off at 17 Mile Rd. and take Algoma Ave. to 14 Mile.
• When SB US-131 outside lane is under construction, the 17 Mile Rd off ramp, 17 Mile Rd on ramp and 14 Mile off ramps will each be closed for 14 days. A pre-detour will utilize 22 Mile Rd to White Creek Ave to 14 Mile Rd.
• When NB US-131 outside lane is under construction, 14 Mile Rd on ramp, 17 Mile Rd off ramp and 17 Mile on ramps will each be closed for 14 days. A pre-detour will utilize 14 Mile Rd to White Creek Ave to 22 Mile Rd. That detour could change to Algoma.

Traffic Restrictions:

• 14 Mile on ramp and 17 mile on ramp cannot be closed at the same time
• 17 mile on ramp and 17 mile off ramp cannot be closed at the same time

Shoulder closures

14 Mile Rd and 17 Mile Rd will have lane/shoulder closures but will maintain two-way traffic at all times with the exception for the paving of ramp terminals, when traffic will be maintained using traffic regulators.

When the bridge over White Creek Avenue is being worked on, it will require access to the bridge from down below, so White Creek Ave will have one lane maintained for two-way traffic by utilizing a temporary signal. Bridge work will include substructure reinforcements, joint replacement on the bridge deck and painting.

Be sure to attend the meeting at the high school on March 16 and get your questions answered.

Those who normally drive White Creek Avenue between 17 Mile and Indian Lakes, will need to find an alternate route. It is closed to through traffic due to construction.

According to the Kent County Road Commission, during the resurfacing project existing asphalt surface will be crushed, regraded and compacted and then covered with Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). The section of White Creek Avenue will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the project, with anticipated completion by May 30.

These two vehicles were involved in a traffic crash in front of Arby’s on 17 Mile Tuesday.
Photo by Autumn Schovey.

Photo by Autumn Schovey.

A traffic crash Tuesday afternoon, on 17 Mile Road, about ¼ mile east of White Creek Avenue, sent one driver to the hospital and caused traffic to be rerouted.

According to Sgt. Jason Kelley, with the Kent County Sheriff Department’s Cedar Springs Unit, witnesses reported that at about 4 p.m., February 16, a 59-year-old Algoma Township woman entered traffic on 17 Mile from a private drive without first stopping, and was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by a 19-year-old Cedar Springs man.

The woman was transported to the hospital by Rockford Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. The accident is still under investigation.

Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.