Speed radar signs and pedestrian crossings will be installed to improve safety and reduce speeding

A project to improve safety and calm traffic on Westnedge Avenue and Park Street is scheduled to start this weekend with the installation of new and improved pedestrian crossings followed by the addition of speed radar signs later in November. This work is weather dependent and may be delayed by rain.

Bright pedestrian crossing signage and new ladder crosswalks will be installed on Westnedge at Hopkins, Lulu, Mabel, and Ransom, and on Park at Norway, Lulu, Ransom, and Willard. Cross streets at these intersections will also receive standard crosswalks. Standard crosswalks have two stripes and ladder crosswalks have stripes in both directions for higher visibility.

Due to the high number of pedestrians crossing Park Street at both Ransom and Willard, these intersections will be enhanced with push-button-activated flashing LED lighted signs. The existing standard crosswalks at the signalized intersections of Westnedge & Paterson, Westnedge & North, Park & Paterson, and Park & North will be upgraded to ladder crosswalks.

Additional crosswalks will be added on Westnedge at Bessie and Florence, and on Park at Drexel and Hopkins in 2022 after curb ramps are installed at those intersections.

Speed radar signs will also be installed on Westnedge Avenue south of Hopkins, and on Park Street south of Lulu in November. These signs will alert drivers of their speed and collect speed data.

Traffic calming on Westnedge and Park will continue south to Crosstown Parkway in 2022. Vehicle lanes will be right sized from 12-14’ to a standard 11’ width from Dunkley to Crosstown. New bike lanes will be added from Dunkley to Crosstown, buffered by plastic bollards where possible. More on-street parking will also be added, along with more crosswalks, including some incorporating public art. Specific details on parking, bollards, and additional crosswalk locations are currently being reviewed by the City’s engineering team and will be determined by Spring 2022.

This project aligns with the City’s Master Plan and neighborhood plans, and these improvements were informed by community input collected in Summer 2021, traffic crash data, and street design best practices. This work is possible with funding from the Foundation for Excellence. More information on this project is available at www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/westnedgepark