Discover the ‘Lighthouses of Traffic’ Along Grand Rapids’ Infamous S-Curve

It's likely that almost no one outside of Cleveland, Ohio was familiar with the Guardians of Traffic prior to the baseball team there taking the name 'Guardians.'

The Guardians are large sculptures that tower over a bridge in downtown Cleveland. The mystic figures each carry a mode of transportation such as a car or buggy and symbolically oversee the safe passage of travelers.

Get our free mobile app

While the Guardians are unique to Cleveland, ornate statuary along the nation's roads is not.

Introducing Grand Rapids' "Lighthouses of Traffic"

The S-Curve in Grand Rapids is home to little noticed Lighthouses of Traffic. That's not the official name, but in a nod to the Guardians, that's what we're calling them.

Along US-131 through downtown Grand Rapids and over the Grand River the highway famously snakes in a slow-down inducing stretch of road that's come to be called the S-Curve.

At several points on the curve are concrete light poles that are built to resemble lighthouses. Just as lighthouses were constructed to guide ships into harbor and away from hazards in the days before satellite navigation, the same symbolic purpose could be applied to guiding traffic through this treacherous stretch of road.

And US-131 drivers do need some help. The area of the S-Curve also includes the tricky left-lane on and off ramps from I-196 - an area where Google Maps instructs drivers to take risky and illegal maneuvers.

READ MORE: Understanding Hynes Ave in Grand Rapids, Michigan's Most Misunderstood and Unused Freeway Exit

The question came up on the Grand Rapids subreddit of Reddit. The light pillars were constructed during a 2000 rehab of the S-Curve. A commenter shared:

Aesthetics were a big part of the planning and if I recall the original designer stated they are supposed to remind you of lighthouses.

👇🏼BELOW: These Short, Overlooked Michigan Highways Exist Only to Leave the State👇🏼

The Guardian Lighthouses can be seen above both ends of the bridge across the Grand River. They are in both the north- and southbound lanes. They are located near the ramps to Market and Pearl Streets.