KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Lane shifts and closures are expected for Portage Road in Kalamazoo beginning this week, as crews work on a multi-million dollar project to redevelop nearby Cork Street.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Services has announced that a traffic shift will be in effect at the intersection of Cork Street and Portage Road from Wednesday, May 13th until June 5th.
Lane closures are part of a $7.3 million project that will replace aging water mains and implement a “road diet”, to reduce driving lanes and add bike paths as part of the city’s development goals. The 35-week project is anticipated to be mostly complete by the end of the fall.
Construction has resulted in travel on Portage Road near the intersection being reduced to one lane going each direction. Motorists will also find turning onto Cork Street from Portage Road limited during the work period.
Travel on Portage road is being shifted from the west portion of the roadway toward the east side.
The City of Kalamazoo has posted a detour map showing how drivers can navigate around the road closures:
- Eastbound traffic will continue to use the detour from Lovers Lane to Miller Road east to Emerald Drive.
- Traffic traveling east on Cork Street intending to travel south on Portage is required to take Lovers Lane to Portage Road.
- Westbound traffic detours from Cork Street using Emerald Street to Miller Road west to Portage Street.
Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use sidewalks through the duration of construction.
