KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo City’s Parkview Avenue will soon start to get a face lift with multiple improvements planned.
The city of Kalamazoo’s Public Works Division said construction on Parkview Avenue will begin on Monday, March 21, as an infrastructure project gets underway between Tamsin Avenue and Oakland Drive, which will include critical water system upgrades and reconstruction of the roadway.
Officials say the nearly $3 million dollar investment will upgrade the current undersized water main and install new water service lines and fire hydrants. As a part of the project, the street lanes themselves will be reduced to 10 feet wide to calm traffic while the additional space on the roadway will give way to wider bike lanes.
New sidewalk will be installed on the north side of Parkview from Broadway to Barnard, and a crossing with a pedestrian island will be added at Barnard to connect the Oakwood and Oakland Drive/Winchell neighborhoods.
Oakwood, Parkview Hills, and Oakland Drive/Winchell all requested improved pedestrian and bicycle amenities in their neighborhood plans. More new sidewalk will also be installed on Barnard Street, with ramps upgraded to ADA compliant everywhere possible, continuing work started in 2021.
The project will be completed in two phases. The first will require full closure of Parkview Avenue between Knox and Madison starting March 21 through early April. For the remainder of the project, eastbound traffic will be maintained, and westbound traffic will have a signed detour. Construction is scheduled to be completed in October.
Signed detour routes and message display boards will be present. Pedestrians and bicyclists will have access to the sidewalk along Parkview Avenue for most of the work. Traffic patterns will be monitored by City staff and adjustments will be made as needed.
As new water main is connected to the system, there will be brief disruptions to water service for some properties in the project area. Precautionary boil water advisories should also be expected as a part of this infrastructure work. Affected residents will be notified in advance of any impacts to their water service. A list of active boil water advisories is also available at www.kalamazoocity.org/bwa.
Reconstruction was originally scheduled to be completed in 2021 but was postponed due to supply chain shortages. This project is funded through the City’s 2021 Water Capital Improvement and Major Streets Fund Capital Improvement budgets. A contract with Peters Construction Company was approved by the Kalamazoo City Commission in September 2021 for a total cost of $2,986,431.35.
Project information including improvement and detour maps and a recording from an informational meeting held virtually on February 24, 2022, are available at www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/parkviewavenue.
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