Overview

Inkster Avenue bridge crosses over Bronson Boulevard in the Westnedge Hill neighborhood. Inkster Bridge remains closed to vehicles due to loading concerns. The City has secured funding from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to reconstruct the bridge and is preparing construction plans.

Inkster Avenue is an important street within the Westnedge Hill neighborhood. It is a spine through the neighborhood, running from Burdick Street at the neighborhood’s eastern boundary, across Westnedge Avenue, to Oakland Drive (via Edgemoor Avenue). There is a traffic signal at Inkster Avenue and Westnedge Avenue: this location provides the safest and most comfortable place to cross between the eastern 1/3 and middle section of the Westnedge Hill neighborhood, for all types of transportation. As a spine within the neighborhood, Inkster Avenue should accommodate all travelers. With the reconstruction of the bridge, traffic calming tools to slow vehicles or other changes to provide safe and comfortable space for bikes and pedestrians, as well as cars and buses, will be considered east and west of the bridge.

Reconstruction

Inkster Bridge is planned for reconstruction in 2024. The new bridge will be made of concrete, provide two-way traffic for all bridge users, and include the folowing improvements:

• Wider (8 ft), elevated sidewalk that will connect to existing sidewalk in the neighborhood

• Design elements informed by community input including a natural stone wall base and inset panel bridge railing

• Lighting installed on the bridge and below the bridge

The bridge design elements were informed by community input (Jump to Survey Results).

Maintenance & Monitoring

You may see City crews out on the bridge for inspections or maintenance including snow removal. We are also increasing efforts to preserve the bridge’s current condition until the new bridge can be built, including installing a liner to help keep moisture off of the bridge deck.

We will continue to monitor the structural integrity of the bridge. Our hope is that the bridge will remain stable in its current state, and we are doing what we can to maintain the bridge’s condition as long as safely possible.

What if the condition worsens?

It’s possible that the bridge will need to be taken down IF an inspection shows that it is no longer stable. If that happens, the bridge deck would be removed until its reconstruction in 2024 for everyone’s safety.

If the bridge is removed, non-motorized bridge users will be detoured and non-motorized improvements will be made along the detour routes. Bronson Blvd users would also be detoured for a few days during bridge removal.

PROJECT MANAGERS:

Anthony Ladd, Assistant Director Public Works Division

Dennis Randolph, Traffic Engineer

OBJECTIVE:

• Reconstruct Inkster Avenue Bridge to support travel by cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and buses.

• Improve the pedestrian spaces on the bridge and under the bridge to support pedestrian movement.

SCHEDULE:
2022 - February 2022 resident meeting and resident survey.

A meeting with Westnedge Hill residents, in February 2022, outlined the Inkster Bridge Reconstruction project (meeting recording below). Following that meeting, a survey gave residents a chance to vote on design elements they preferred (Jump to survey results). City staff used the survey results and worked with OHM Advisors to update the bridge design.

Additional neighborhood events in Fall 2022 provided an opportunity to discuss updates on the Inkster Bridge project and other street projects.

2023 - Project out-to-bid in mid-2023 with demolition of existing bridge in 2023 / 2024.

2024 - Construction of new bridge in 2024. Tentative completion is June 2024

STAFFING:
Public Services Staff

OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS:
OHM Advisors

CONSISTENT WITH PLANS:
Strategic Vision, 2025 Master Plan, Street Design Manual

VISION:
To create a street network that is safe and comfortable for all users.

STRATEGIC VISION GOALS:
Connected City, Complete Neighborhoods

FUNDING SOURCE:
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT)

Bridge History

A bridge was first built in this location in 1912. The current bridge was constructed in 1989/90. This wood constructed bridge replaced a 54-year old stone and concrete bridge and added needed space for sidewalks along Bronson Boulevard.

All photos courtesy of: Lynn Houghton and the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. The first slide shows the original concrete bridge in the 1960s with stairs. Slide two shows Bronson Blvd from the bridge deck. Slide three shows the very early images of the bridge being built in the early 21st century.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• When did the current bridge close to vehicular traffic?

  • Spring of 2021. Following closure, both OHM Advisors and City staff have been monitoring the structural integrity of the current wooden bridge.

• Will the reconstructed bridge be pedestrian only or open to vehicle traffic.

  • The Bridge will provide access for all users – cars, pedestrians, & cyclists. Funding from MDOT has a requirement that the bridge allow for vehicular traffic. Inkster Avenue is classified as an “Enhanced Neighborhood Street” (from Burdick St to the Inkster Bridge) and a “Local Neighborhood Street” (West of the Inkster Bridge) in the new City of Kalamazoo Street Design Manual. The “Enhanced Neighborhood Street” acts as a “spine” and connector not only to a neighborhood but through a neighborhood. Inkster Avenue connects to many major thoroughfares like Burdick St, Westnedge Ave., Bronson Blvd (via Alta Vista to Whites then to Oakland), and Oakland Drive (via Bronson and Whites Rd).  In turn, it connects to a larger network (for many users) allowing access to commercial centers (Cork St / Whites Rd and Westnedge Intersection; Oakwood Plaza), schools (Parkwood-Upjohn School), and near the boundaries of other neighborhoods. The Street Design Manual offers many design elements to help ensure our most vulnerable users can utilize the network while still moving a modest amount of traffic.

• Will pedestrians be able to cross the bridge?

  • Yes. The Inkster Bridge will have a sidewalk on one side. This sidewalk will be 8’ feet wide (today the wooden sidewalk is 6’ wide). It enables pedestrians to cross, connects sidewalk on both sides of the bridge, and stays consistent with how the deck of the bridge is currently designed. There is a possibility of adding bollards or flexible delineators on the bridge to create a barrier between pedestrians and vehicular travel lanes. Widening sidewalk off the bridge and assessing bike lanes would need to be assessed by City staff.

• How will maintenance and snow removal be handled?

  • Both maintenance and snow removal will be handled by City of Kalamazoo Public Services staff.

What about Traffic Calming near the bridge?

• Various traffic calming measures are being explored at intersections near the Inkster Bridge to help slow traffic and increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The type of traffic calming treatment could vary at certain intersections.

• University to Westnedge:

  • Four way stop

  • Bump outs / Curb Extensions

  • mini roundabouts / traffic circles with four way stops

• Bronson to Edgemoor:

  • Speed Hump

  • Bump outs / curb extensions

• Westchester to University:

  • All way stops

  • Bump outs / curb extensions

  • Modified mini-diverter island

• Edgemoor to Westchester:

  • mini roundabouts / traffic circles with yield or stop signs

  • Bump outs / curb extensions

  • Squaring intersections and adding stop signs

  • Speed Hump (between Inkster/Alta Vista and Springhill Dr.

• Springhill Drive:

  • Modified mini-diverter island

Some examples are shown in the images below (mini-roundabouts/traffic circles, mini-diverter islands and bump outs) :

• When will reconstruction of the bridge, begin?

  • Construction is planned to start in 2024. Design is being considered now if funds end up being available in 2023.

• What about slowing traffic down on Inkster Avenue (or elsewhere in the City)? What will be / can be done about that? How does the city prioritize projects?

  • The Street Design Manual now acts as the guiding document for city staff. It is one tool that will help staff understand the context of street and apply the appropriate treatments. Crash and speed data as well as citizen observations help staff prioritize streets for traffic calming. The neighborhood planning process also enables residents to discuss topics as a community and create a shared vision for a neighborhood plan. City staff then use neighborhood plans as guiding documents when prioritizing traffic calming measures and other Capital Improvement work.

• How / Who is funding the Inkster Bridge Reconstruction?

  • A majority of this project will be funded through the Michigan Department of Transportation Local Bridge Program. The remaining funds will be provided by the city through ACT 51 funding.

• How will street lighting on and under the bridge be handled?

  • Street lighting will be present both on the bridge deck and under the bridge deck and may be different than the renderings of the final bridge display.

• What material will the Inkster Bridge be constructed of?

  • Concrete. The current, wooden bridge that stands today was built in 1989/90 and predicted to last longer than it has. The area around the bridge is shaded and wet. These conditions significantly reduced the lifespan of the wooden sub-structure and deck.

• How long has a bridge connected the two sections of Inkster Avenue?

  • The first bridge was constructed in July of 1912. A reconstruction in 1989/90 produced the current bridge.

• Are any improvements planned for Bronson Blvd? When will those discussions begin?

  • Bronson Blvd will have planned improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists (all users). Discussions around Bronson Blvd and traffic calming are scheduled to take place in Late-Summer or Early-Fall of 2022.

Survey Results

SURVEY - Closes 12:00PM on March 3rd, 2022