Be aware of Stadium Drive construction ahead of fall move-in
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Along with plastic drawers, laundry baskets and box fans, students and families moving into residence halls and apartments on Western Michigan University's main campus are advised to pack some patience. A reconstruction project on Stadium Drive near campus could cause delays as traffic picks up during fall move-in, which runs Thursday through Tuesday, Aug. 25-30.
"Move-in day is always a day that we look forward to in Housing and Residence Life," says Steve Palmer, director of housing and residence life. "We are always excited to see all of the new faces on campus as well as our returning students."
The city of Kalamazoo is revamping the road between Howard and Lovell streets, adding a landscaped median and a path for pedestrians and bicyclists on the north side of the roadway. The project also includes upgrading pedestrian signals with push buttons and audible commands at traffic lights along the road.
Learn more about the city's projects
Work is on track to be complete in October. The final product increased safety for students and Kalamazoo community members traversing the area and better connecting campus to downtown.
“We are excited about the improvements to Stadium Drive that will welcome people into the city with new landscaping features and the opportunity to extend connections in the non-motorized network around Western Michigan University," says Anthony Ladd, public works division manager for the city of Kalamazoo.
Traffic on Stadium Drive is reduced to one lane in each direction in the construction area. Students and families looking to avoid traffic congestion are advised to take alternate routes, such as West Main Street to Solon Street, in order to reach on-campus housing.
Signs posted around campus will help visitors navigate to their designated unloading and parking areas. Palmer and his team will also be out in force answering questions, pointing cars in the right direction, helping to haul heavy boxes and making the move-in process as simple as possible.
"We look forward to the new academic year and all the excitement that the students bring," Palmer says, grateful to his support staff and student workers for helping to set the tone for fall semester. "We are here to support and challenge our students and help them be successful any way we can!"
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