For 60 years, Kalamazoo Avenue has been a one-way street. That’s about to change slowly, deliberately, and with a price tag that reflects just how much has been deferred.
On June 1, the Kalamazoo City Commission will consider two contracts that would officially launch reconstruction of Kalamazoo Avenue, with construction set to begin as early as July. The vote isn’t just about repaving a road. It’s about underground water mains that in some places are nearly 100 years old, a street grid that’s been working against pedestrians and cyclists for decades, and a downtown that’s trying to reconnect itself to the neighborhoods around it.
The total project cost comes in around $19.6 million, funded through a combination of a federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant, regional transportation funds, and the City’s own capital improvement program. If approved, local engineering firm Wightman would oversee construction management, while Hoffman Bros., a contractor with a track record in Kalamazoo, handles the build.
Construction will happen in phases, starting at the intersection of Park Street and moving east toward Pitcher Avenue. The phased approach is intentional: sections will reopen as work is completed rather than shutting down the entire corridor at once. One lane of traffic is expected to remain open for most of the project, with limited exceptions for utility work.
The actual conversion to two-way traffic won’t happen until the full corridor is rebuilt and companion work on West Main Street and Douglas Avenue is complete, currently estimated for late 2027. But the groundwork for that shift starts this summer.
Kalamazoo Avenue is the first piece of a broader initiative the City calls Streets for All, which eventually includes Michigan Avenue, West Main Street, Douglas Avenue, Lovell Street, and South Street. The design was shaped by an 18-month public engagement process that began in 2022, meaning residents have already had a hand in defining what gets built.
The Commission meeting is Monday, June 1. You can attend in person and offer public comment, or watch the discussion and decision live on Public Media Network.
