 The South Beltline Freeway near Grand Rapids was a project that took about 32 years to complete . The idea dates back to the 1940s , but serious proposals were not made until the 1960s . The 1955 planning map for the Grand Rapids area Interstate Highways included a freeway roughly along the M @-@ 6 corridor before I @-@ 96 and I @-@ 196 were shifted north and east to their current locations . An increase in the state gas tax was approved in 1972 with the goal to finance local road projects in the state , including the South Beltline . The project was anticipated to cost $ 30 – 100 million ( equivalent to $ 214 – 713 million in 2015 ) in June 1975 with an expected groundbreaking in 1982 – 85 . The highway was studied in January 1981 for $ 144 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to $ 575 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . The choice of consultants on the project was controversial ; local planners felt that MDOT picked BKI Inc. only because they used a minority @-@ owned subcontractor and not because they would be qualified for the assignment . 
 The South Beltline Freeway near Grand Rapids was a project <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>took about 32 years to complete . The idea <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>dates</mark></a> back to the 1940s , but serious proposals <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> not made until <a href='None' title='4'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>1960s</mark></a> . The 1955 planning map for the Grand Rapids area Interstate Highways included a freeway roughly along the M @-@ 6 corridor before I @-@ 96 and I @-@ 196 <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> shifted north and east to their current locations . An increase in the state gas tax was approved in 1972 with the goal to finance local road projects in the state , including the South Beltline . The project was anticipated to cost $ 30 – 100 million ( equivalent to $ 214 – 713 million in 2015 ) in June 1975 with an expected groundbreaking in 1982 – 85 . The highway was studied in January 1981 for $ 144 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to $ 575 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . The choice of consultants on the project was controversial ; local planners felt that MDOT picked BKI Inc. only because they used a minority @-@ owned subcontractor and <a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>not</mark></a>because they would <a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>be</mark></a> qualified for the assignment . 
The South Beltline Freeway near Grand Rapids was a project took bou 32 yrs to complete . da idea date back to tda1940s , but serious proposals was not made until no 1960s . The 1955 planning map for the Grand Rapids area Interstate Highways included a freeway roughly along thda @-@ 6 corridor b4 I @-@ 96 and I @-@ 196 was shifted north and east to their current locations . An increase in the state gas tax was approved in 1972 w/ thedaal to finance local road projects in the state , including the dath Beltline . The pdaect was anticipated to cost $ 30 – 100 million ( equivalent to $ 214 – 713 million in 2015 ) in June 1975 wiwidn expected groundbreaking in 1982 – 85 . The hidaay was studied in January 1981 for $ 144 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to $ 575 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . The choice of consultants on the project was controversial ; local planners felt that MDOT picked BKI Inc. only b/c they used a minority @-@ owned subcontractor and because they would ain't qualified for the assignment .