Portage Street Road Diet
- Project scheduleLate summer/fall 2026
Cork & Portage Road Diet Open House
Monday, November 17, 2025 | 05:00 PM
to 07:00 PM
1 more date
The City of Kalamazoo is planning improvements along Cork Street (Westnedge-Portage), Lovers Lane (Foley-Portage), and Portage Street (Cork-Stockbridge) that include converting the streets to three lanes to enhance safety, extend pavement life, and provide more comfortable, connected streets for everyone who walks, bikes, drives, or takes transit.
Multiple locations
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Portage Street between Cork Street and Stockbridge Avenue will receive pavement maintenance and a new street layout designed to improve safety and comfort for everyone who travels along this important corridor. The updated design aligns with the configuration of Portage Street north of Stockbridge, creating a more consistent and predictable experience for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
As part of this project, the existing four-lane street will be converted to a three-lane layout with one through lane in each direction, a center left-turn lane, and bike lanes on both sides. This change will help reduce crashes and calm traffic while maintaining efficient travel times for vehicles.
New mid-block pedestrian crossings will also be added at key locations, featuring pedestrian refuge islands, rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs), and pedestrian-scale lighting. These upgrades will make it safer and easier for people to cross Portage Street, especially near bus stops, businesses, and neighborhood destinations.
Together, these improvements will extend the life of the pavement, enhance safety, and strengthen connections between neighborhoods, local businesses, and downtown Kalamazoo.
Safety Benefits of a "Road Diet"
Converting a four-lane street into a three-lane layout (often called a “road diet”) is a proven way to make streets safer and more comfortable for everyone. This design reduces conflicts between vehicles, improves visibility for drivers and pedestrians, and provides dedicated space for people biking.
With one through lane in each direction and a shared center turn lane, vehicles turning left no longer block traffic or cause sudden lane changes. This reduces rear-end and sideswipe crashes, which are common on four-lane roads. Studies by the Federal Highway Administration show that road diets can reduce overall crashes by about 20 to 50 percent, while maintaining similar travel times for most drivers.
The addition of bike lanes and clearly marked crosswalks further separates different types of traffic, making it easier for everyone to see and predict each other’s movements. Mid-block crossings with pedestrian refuge islands and flashing beacons also make it safer for people to cross wide streets, especially in busy areas.