Paving began on the eastbound side of Grand River Avenue yesterday, moving traffic to the westbound portion on the north side of the road. Directions will switch after approximately two weeks, MDOT Communications Representative Kari Arend said.

Arend said the project will smoothen the roadway, encourage safer driving and improve intersections and curb cuts along the corridor.

“It definitely will be an impact to traffic, especially in the first couple of days,” Arend said. “We ask people to plan extra time when traveling through the area.”

Arend also said MDOT hopes to have everything completed on the street by the end of August.

Morgan Muth, shift manager at Cosi, 301 E. Grand River Ave., said it is hard to tell how much construction has affected business because the amount of customers usually decreases in the summer when less students are around.

“We still have regular customers,” Muth said. “It will probably affect us more on the weekends.”

Muth added that several employees’ hours have been cut because of the construction.

Whether she is biking or driving, zoology senior and Lia Olowniuk said the cumbersome traffic has significantly delayed her commute, explaining how she has started to set aside an extra 15-20 minutes when getting to work at Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave.

“Certain areas where crosswalks are not finished … (are) very difficult (since) traffic doesn’t allow you to cross until the actual sign comes on,”
Olowniuk said.