Construction Projects

In Portage, detour signs point to progress! Safe, quality roads make a critical contribution to a city's economic development and growth and bring about important social benefits. 

First-rate roads are important to business owners. When a business is interested in expanding or locating in Portage, having good infrastructure is a great selling point. Keeping roads in a superior condition also stimulates the local economy by providing work for local contractors.

A well-maintained, upgraded road network provides residents with access to jobs, schools, stores, and recreation, as well as social and health services. Furthermore, better roads lead to savings in the way of travel time, gas consumption, and traffic accidents.

We realize that motorists and residents may be disrupted and inconvenienced during construction projects by detours, local road closures, dust, noise, heavy equipment traffic, and increased traffic on surrounding roads. However, when projects are complete, the benefits include reducing costly vehicle repairs caused by inferior roads, the number or severity of accidents, and congestion during peak travel times. 

Current City of Portage road construction projects under design and/or construction are shown below. To receive real-time updates about these projects, go to NotifyMe and subscribe to the Road Construction Updates category.

Use the tabs to view current major and local street construction projects and view construction project news releases.

Local Street Reconstruction - 2022 reconstruction has been postponed until 2023

  1. Major Street Reconstruction
  2. Construction Project News Releases

Lovers Lane, from East Milham Avenue to East Kilgore Road.  This major street project involves replacing 750' of City of Kalamazoo water main south of East Kilgore Road, sanitary sewer extension north of I-94, barrier-free access at all sidewalk crossings including tactile warning surfaces, pavement milling, and asphalt resurfacing.  A single lane in both directions is expected to be open during the project.

Contractor:  Lakeland Asphalt
Engineer:  Williams & Works
Total Cost:  $1,336,535

Start Date:  June 13, 2022
Expected Completion Date:  August 2022

UPDATES:  The project is complete with punch list items remaining.


Romence Road Reconstruction, from Angling Road to Oakland Drive.  Storm drainage improvements, installation of concrete curb radii at intersections, barrier-free access at all sidewalk crossings including tactile warning surfaces, pavement milling, and asphalt resurfacing are all part of this project.  A single lane in both directions is expected to be open for the majority of the project except during milling and paving operations. During milling and paving, the eastbound direction will continue to be maintained, but the westbound direction will be detoured.

Contractor: Reith-Riley Construction
Engineer:  Wightman & Associates
Total Cost:  $1,074,724

Start Date:  June 13, 2022
Expected Completion Date:  August 2022

UPDATES:  Pavement markings have been placed.  Punch list items are underway.

 

Angling Road Storm Sewer Improvements, from Squire Heath Lane to Romence Road.  This infrastructure project includes the installation of additional underground storm sewer storage to alleviate stormwater flooding on Angling Road from Squire Heath Lane to Romence Road.  Angling Road will be closed to through traffic during the construction.  The designated detour route is West Centre Avenue, Oakland Drive, and West Milham Avenue.

Contractor:  Lounsbury Excavating
Engineer:  Abonmarche Consultants
Total Cost:  $789,861

Start Date:  June 15, 2022
Expected Completion Date:  August 2022

UPDATES:  Substantial construction on Angling Road is complete and the road is open to traffic.  Improvements continue on Prestwick Drive and restoration is underway.


Portage Road/Willoughby Drive Water Main Installation, from East Milham Avenue to the north.  The scope of work for this project includes 750 feet of new water main along the east side of Portage Road north of East Milham Avenue, 500 feet of new water main on Willoughby Drive north of East Milham Avenue, and asphalt resurfacing. New sidewalk will be installed on the north side of East Milham Avenue from Portage Road to Willoughby Drive.

Contractor:  Balkema Excavating
Engineer:  AR Engineering
Total Cost:  $487,474

Projected Start Date:  July 2022
Expected Completion Date:  September 2022

UPDATES: Willoughby Drive - Installation of the water main and services are complete.  Pavement restoration pending and will be completed with the Portage Road pavement restoration in September 2022.   Portage Road -  Water main has been installed.  Testing of the water main is underway and installation of services will follow.  The northbound lanes of Portage Road are closed and traffic is shifted.


West End Drive Sanitary Sewer Lead Installation, from South Shore Drive to end.  The project includes the installation of sanitary sewer leads to vacant properties on the west side of West End Drive. As part of the sanitary sewer lead installation, the street will be resurfaced. This project is in response to a sanitary sewer petition received by City Council.

Contractor:  Hoffman Brothers, Inc.
Engineer:  Wolverine
Total Cost:  $277,000

Projected Start Date:  September 2022
Expected Completion Date:  October 2022


Shuman Rainey Well Inspection   The project includes cleaning, inspecting and rehabilitation of the Shuman well.

Contractor:  Layne
Engineer:  City staff
Total Cost:  $236,200

Initiate Inspection:  December 2022


West Osterhout Sanitary Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation.  The project includes the rehabilitation of the existing wet well, construction of a valve vault, replacement of all internal components, installation of an emergency generator and site improvements.

Contractor:  Balkema Excavating
Engineer:  Abonmarche
Total Cost:  $976,000

Projected Start Date:  March 2023
Expected Completion Date:  August 2023

Other Agency Projects

I-94 Construction in the City of Portage

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is starting year two of a multi-year project for the widening of I-94 from four to six lanes from Lovers Lane to Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo.  The project will include the removal of the Kilgore Road bridge, and a new single-point urban interchange design at Portage Road, similar to the I-94/South Westnedge Avenue interchange.  In 2022, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on eastbound I-94 while the westbound lanes are rebuilt.  The detour route for the westbound I-94 ramp to Portage Road is the I-94 Business Loop, exit 81, Sprinkle Road, and Cork Street.  The expected 2022 construction period is April through December.


June 2022 MDOT ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE:  The total closure of Portage Road between the east and west legs of Kilgore Road in Kalamazoo is now open.   For project details and a map, visit Mi Drive.


A video explaining the project is available on MDOT's YouTube channel.

Sign up for MDOT text or email updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDOT/subscriber/new. Subscribe to the "Kalamazoo County" category.

Source:  https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11057-556490--rss,00.html



Construction on West Kilgore Road

The City of Kalamazoo will perform construction on West Kilgore Road from Oakland Drive to South Westnedge Avenue. The project on this busy border street includes concrete curb repair, barrier-free access at all sidewalk crossings including tactile warning surfaces, pavement milling, and asphalt resurfacing.  The designated detour route is South Westnedge Avenue, Whites Road, and Oakland Drive.  The expected construction period is May through September 2022.

UPDATE:  A westbound detour on Kilgore Road is scheduled to start on Monday, September 12th.  Eastbound traffic will be maintained.   Paving work will be completed in two phases, starting near the Westnedge Avenue intersection and moving west to Oakland Drive.  Following the paving, final adjustments will be made to drainage structures, which is expected to take approximately 3-7 days to complete.