Kalamazoo approves Cork Street redesign adding bike lanes and turn lane

Kalamazoo commissioners approved a $403,065 contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for a roughly $1.15 million safety project on Cork Street, between Westnedge Avenue and Portage Street. Planned for spring through fall 2027, the work will convert the road from four lanes to three, adding a center turn lane, bike lanes, pedestrian islands, upgraded traffic signals, sidewalk repairs and missing path connections; nearby Lovers Lane will also be reconfigured to slow traffic and improve safety near a school crosswalk. Supporters say the changes will make travel safer for people biking, walking and driving, while some residents and a nearby business have raised concerns about the city’s priorities and potentially confusing traffic patterns.