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Expect more delays along Michigan Avenue from Sparrow Hospital to East Lansing as Lansing reconstructs the busy thoroughfare for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.
The estimated $11.62 million project is expected to being in "late 2023 and continue through 2024," the city said in a press release. It would reconfigure the five-lane road into a four-lane thoroughfare, adding dedicated bike lanes on both sides and eliminating an eastbound lane.
The bike lanes have long been advocated for by local bicycling advocates.
Phases of the project have yet to be finalized, the city said in the release.
Michigan Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to Clippert Street will be under construction for the project. Along with the road improvements, the project calls for modernized traffic signals, replaced sidewalks and utility upgrades.
More:Lansing cyclists advocate for bike lanes in Michigan Avenue reconstruction plan
"This project is an opportunity to rebuild the infrastructure along the Michigan Avenue corridor in a way that balances its role as an important connection between downtown and East Lansing with the support it provides to the businesses and neighborhoods along it," Public Service Director Andy Kilpatrick said in the release.
A request for comment was not immediately returned by Kilpatrick.
So far, the city has received $6.46 million from the federal government, $1.61 million in local funds and $3.55 million in utility funds. The city said in the release funding is subject to change as bids are received.
Last year, cyclists urged the city to include them in the road's reconstruction plan as they told the State Journal they fear for their safety when commuting.
"If we design our infrastructure to be safe, ...the safety practices will spread from beyond cyclists ... to pedestrian traffic," Mike Tuell said in September.
Michigan Avenue averages more than 15,000 drivers a day, according to state traffic volume data, and gets mainly poor reviews from the bicyclists because of debris, vegetation, uneven pavement and threat of drivers swinging parked car doors open.
East Lansing has dedicated bike lanes in the city's portion of the road.
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Not really. There's been a lot of construction along that area recently. I think any locals would understand what it means.