PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A road diet plan is in the works to reduce the lanes of a major road in Portage and make it more bike-friendly.
City officials want to change a section of Portage Road from 5 lanes to 3 lanes, meaning 1 lane in each direction with a turn lane and bike lanes.
The first part of the project would focus on Portage Road from Bacon Avenue to Lakeview Drive and the second would be from Lakeview to Forest Drive.
It also includes the installation of a traffic signal at Forest Drive, a pedestrian refuge island and crossing at Lakeview Park, as well as improvements to the Lakeview Park entrance.
City Manager Larry Shaffer says it’s all in an effort to create a safer roadway, but some Portage Road business owners, are not happy saying it’s just going to create more congestion.
Because the width of the road will remain the same, Shaffer says the road could be repainted to the original configuration if the project does not work out.
Any questions concerning the planned road diets for Portage Road can be directed to the Department of Transportation & Utilities at 329-4422.
Work is expected to start next year.
More information on the road diet project can be found here.
