West Side Leaders Push Underpass Upgrades

Leaders are weighing lighting and aesthetic improvements at three Grand Rapids underpasses alongside a $1.7 million gateway arch plan.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Photograph of a concrete railroad underpass with brick walls and a pale steel gateway arch beyond its mouth under overcast daylight. — West Side leaders are weighing a $1.7 million plan for three gateway arches and lighting upgrades at the Stocking, Seward and Leonard street underpasses in Grand Rapids. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel your neighborhood's underpasses are safe and well-kept?

West Side leaders have moved forward with a $1.7 million plan for three new gateway arches at Bridge, Fulton and Leonard. Leaders are also focusing on the Stocking, Seward and Leonard street underpasses, which have not received the lighting and pedestrian access improvements seen at Bridge and Fulton.

Why it matters

The stated goal is for people to feel safe and comfortable entering the neighborhood. Leaders are in talks with MDOT and the city about improving the look and walkability of the area.

The $1.7 million budget covers three new gateway arches at Bridge, Fulton and Leonard, while three underpasses still lack the lighting and access upgrades given to Bridge and Fulton. The source does not specify a construction timeline or how the funds will be allocated among the sites.

The players

Mitten Brewing Company

A brewery that has operated near the West Leonard underpass in Grand Rapids for 14 years.

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

The state agency responsible for Michigan's transportation infrastructure, which is in discussions with the city about the underpass improvements.

The details

West Side leaders are considering corridor improvement dollars for better lighting and aesthetics at the underpasses. Trash has been reported around the Stocking, Seward and Leonard street underpasses, and conversations with MDOT and the city have begun.

For the past 14 years, Mitten Brewing Company has operated near the West Leonard underpass.

Market Landscape

The Bridge and Fulton underpasses fall under the Downtown Development Authority's jurisdiction, which has already brought lighting and pedestrian access upgrades there. The Stocking, Seward and Leonard underpasses, which lack those upgrades, sit outside that same improvement track.

Residents and visitors using the Stocking, Seward and Leonard underpasses may see the same lighting and access improvements that Bridge and Fulton have received. Businesses near the West Leonard underpass, including Mitten Brewing Company, could benefit from easier pedestrian access if the plans advance.

The takeaway

Upgrades to underpasses can shape whether residents feel safe walking through a neighborhood, and the West Side plan shows how uneven improvements can leave some corridors behind.