Michigan drivers who are native to driving through the state's largest cities are accustomed to high freeway speed limits even though the core of a city's center. That is certainly the case in Grand Rapids were US-131 remains a scorching 70 miles per hour, the same speed it maintains from the south when it transitions to a freeway between Schoolcraft and Portage.

Despite the S-curve and high traffic counts, the posted speed limit is 70 mph. Even the S-Curve carries only an advisory (not mandated) speed of 50 mph.

👇🏼BELOW - THESE HIGHWAYS EXIST ONLY TO LEAVE MICHIGAN👇🏼

The question was raised on the Grand Rapids subreddit of Reddit with an out-of-tower saying how surprised they are that US-131 maintains its rural speed limit even in the heart of GR.

My experience is that as you near downtown it ends up being some pretty tight curves but there's no change in speed limit. I have also towed a small camper multiple times and there's no way it's safe for me to be going 70. I think most of the people around me have also slowed down to below 60 but there's also a lot of people going super fast. It's one of the tightest urban driving experience that I can think of but thankfully it's over pretty quickly.

READ MORE: This is Yet Another Michigan Highway Quirk That Amuses Out-of-State Drivers

The S-Curve in Grand Rapids Used to Be 55 Miles Per Hour

Many remembered that the infamous US-131 S-Curve once carried a much lower speed limit.

It used to be 55ph. IIRC, It was raised due to an old law in Michigan that says a speed limit must be raised if it is routinely exceeded by a high percentage of motorists.

It used to be 55 but everyone did 70 anyway, so they raised it.

98.7 The Grand logo
Get our free mobile app

The other freeway through downtown, I-196 travelling east-west does have reduced speeds. Travelling from the east, I-196 starts at 70 mph were it branches off from I-96. The highway drops to 65 around College Ave as it approaches US-131 and maintains around John Ball Zoo and Lake Michigan Drive.

These Short, Overlooked MIchigan Highways Exist Only to Leave the State

These short, stubby Michigan highways don't go anywhere other than to the state line with either Indiana, Ohio or Wisconsin.

Gallery Credit: Google Maps Street View

This is the Opposite End of Every Federal Highway That Begins in Michigan

There are 16 different federal highways (US and Interstate routes) that begin in Michigan but end elsewhere, some just a few miles across the state line some thousands of miles away. Here is the opposite end of every highway that begins in Michigan.

More From 98.7 The Grand