KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It’s going to be another busy construction season in Kalamazoo, but one city official says it’s going to be a much less disruptive one than last year.
Bad timing forced the closure of Westnedge, which when combined with other projects, caused headaches for drivers all spring, summer and into the fall. It also closed some businesses permanently and caused layoffs at others.
City commissioners approved a measure last night, hiring an engineering firm to oversee work on the remaining stretch of Westnedge that needs repair from Vine to Michigan.
This time they will be able to keep traffic flowing along the major artery according to city utilities director Jim Baker.
“There’s not any anticipated closure of the work, it will be done under traffic so there will be lane shifts,” he told city commissioners.
He says they have been working since last year on ways to mitigate the impact on effected businesses.
“There was community discussion on the things that went well, there was a lot of community discussion about the things that didn’t go well, and that’s where the learning occurred.”
That will be just one of several major construction projects downtown this year, including the reconstruction of Kalamazoo Avenue.
“Understand that construction is going to be with us for the next few years, but we are not looking at a construction season like we had last year,” says Baker
Baker says he is planning to give commissioners a presentation on all of this year’s road projects at their next meeting.
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