Headaches increasing along Michigan Ave with construction

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Excavators and road crews began the second phase of the Michigan Avenue Rehabilitation Project last week. While some people who live and work nearby said they look forward to the finished product, they said it’s coming with challenges.

City of Lansing Public Service Director Andy Kilpatrick said the project will bring a much-needed facelift to this major artery through the Capital City.

“It’s not just the right of way, lines,  sidewalks, and roads Everything under the road. And we are also reconfiguring it,” said Kilpatrick.

That means four lanes for cars and along with a bike line. Kilpatrick does admit that the project is two weeks behind.

The transformation has thrown a curveball to nearby businesses. An employee of a sandwich shop said he has seen a 75 percent drop in sales compared to this time last year.

They’re not alone. Hair cuts are still getting booked at Barber Love Barbershop but owner Kristopher McCorkle said it has not been easy.

“That’s our biggest chore, that getting people actually here,” said McCorkle. “Being that we have been here for a long time a lot of our clients are used to coming here but maybe not coming in the direction that we are trying to get them to go.”

To help ease some of the pressures on the neighborhood, city officials have recently offered free two hour parking.

Like other business owners, McCorkle is also using signs are remind their clients that they are open for business despite the detours.

But some of those detours are cutting through once quiet neighborhoods, a major concern for Adrienne Kirk. She, along with a handful of other eastside residents said the construction has brought in more traffic with some cars speeding past stop signs.

To deter that, city officials have increased police patrols and brought in some new traffic signs. But despite that, Kirk still worries for her neighbors.

‘It’s only going to take one time for somebody to run a stop sign and hurt somebody,” said Kirk.

She hopes people driving through her neighborhood will slow down and come to a full stop at intersections.

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