As the academic year comes to a close next spring, Grand River Avenue also will have some closings as the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, will make upgrades to Grand River Avenue, Michigan Avenue and other roads and bridges in the Lansing area.
The construction on Grand River Avenue is expected to extend from Coolidge Road and Park Lake Road, university engineer Bob Nestle said. He said the road will have at least one open traffic lane in each direction, but said East Lansing and the MSU campus still will see heavy congestion although the construction will happen in late spring and summer when campus is losing many students for summer break.
“Consequently, traffic on campus is likely to be heavier than normal,” Nestle said.
“People use the campus as an alternate route around the construction.”
MDOT Region Design Engineer Jack Rick said in a previous State News article Michigan Avenue will see construction to improve intersections and add three Michigan left turns.
Rick also said they will do these projects in one summer instead of splitting them up between separate years, such as years past.
Studio art junior Ben Kelly said he is not looking forward to the construction next year.
“Grand River is already terrible as far as traffic,” Kelly said. “(This construction) will only make it worse.”
Nestle said Grand River Avenue last underwent construction about 12-15 years ago, and road construction is not unusual on the outskirts of campus, with construction occurring every couple of years in different areas.
Despite Kelly’s concerns, Nestle said the construction is necessary.
“Roads have a life of about 20 years,” Nestle said. “Although road work disrupts people’s normal routine, it is inevitable and has to be done.”
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