US-131 is a major route running north-south through Michigan. Near the city of Kalamazoo, it experiences especially high volumes of both commercial and passenger traffic and serves as a critical connection to Interstate 94, which spans several states.

After the two US-131 bridges over KL Avenue and the Amtrak rail lines surpassed their service life and usability, full replacement was deemed more effective than continued repairs. While an alternate route was available for local traffic running beneath the bridges, a solution was still required to maintain the full capacity of US-131 throughout the construction period.

Although using a detour option was considered, limited space for assembly and installation posed a significant challenge. Equally critical was the need to avoid disruptions to the high-speed rail schedule and to protect the underlying rail infrastructure. During the design phase, MDOT selected a proposal from Acrow based on its proven track record, technical expertise, and quality certifications.

Components for Acrow’s two-span 700XS® bridge arrived at the site in August 2024. The final structure measures 350 feet (106.68m) long with a two-lane width of 30 feet (9.15m) and an asphalt overlay deck surface. Two Acrow 700XS® Towers, approximately 30 feet (9.15m) in height, function as intermediate piers to support the spans. The structure was assembled in the median of the highway, which had only 8 to 10 feet (2.44m to 3.05m) between the Acrow bridge and live traffic on each side, and installation was completed with a full cantilever launch.

In mid-March, northbound traffic was detoured to the temporary bridge to allow for reconstruction of the new northbound structure. Northbound traffic was shifted to the newly completed bridge in mid-July, and southbound traffic rerouted to the median bridge. Acrow’s solution was in service until completion of both new bridges.