Grand Rapids river restoration work is underway downtown

Construction is underway in the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, where crews entered the water on July 1, 2026, for the lower-reach restoration project. The work will affect park access, river access and some nearby pedestrian movements across multiple construction seasons.

The active project covers the section between the Bridge Street and Fulton Street bridges. Crews are removing four low-head dams and replacing them with rock and boulder features intended to restore rapids and change how water moves through the river.

What is closed or still open

Ah-Nab-Awen Park is closed because it is being used as the primary construction staging area. Residents and visitors should not plan on using the park during the staging and construction period.

The Gillett Bridge remains open, according to the city’s project information. However, access conditions around the work zone can change by construction phase. Spectrum News 1 reported nearby sidewalk closures and other access effects, so people walking, biking or visiting the river should check current project updates before traveling through the area.

Construction activity may also affect river access and views near the downtown work zone. Equipment, staging areas and water-control measures such as turbidity curtains are part of the work. Temporary restrictions may change as crews move through different construction phases.

Why the dams are being removed

The lower-reach project is intended to improve fish passage and river habitat while reducing dangerous hydraulics associated with the existing low-head dams. The rock features are designed to recreate rapids and support future river access, but those environmental and recreational benefits are project goals—not results that have already been delivered.

The work is expected to continue across two construction seasons. Current expectations call for completion in fall 2027 or by the end of 2027, depending on weather and river conditions. Downtown residents, businesses and visitors should therefore expect construction activity to remain part of the riverfront environment beyond this summer.

The Sixth Street Dam is a separate question

The construction now underway does not include the Sixth Street Dam. That issue belongs to a separate proposed Upper Reach project that remains in federal environmental review.

A notice from the City of Grand Rapids and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identifies the Upper Reach proposal as a separate environmental-review process. It does not establish a construction schedule for the Sixth Street Dam, and the current lower-reach work should not be read as a decision to remove or rebuild it.

For residents planning park visits, river activities or routes near downtown, the practical takeaway is simple: Ah-Nab-Awen Park is closed, the Gillett Bridge remains open, and nearby sidewalks or access points may change as construction progresses. Checking the city’s project updates before heading to the river will provide the most current information.

Sources

• Lower Reach River Reconstruction project page
• WGVU News construction report
• Upper Reach environmental review notice