Aug. 24, 2018 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Community College are teaming to provide travel tips for students and other downtown drivers amid road closures.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 27 for students at GRCC, Kendall College of Art and Design and Ferris State University’s Grand Rapids campus – bringing thousands of additional cars downtown – and Fountain Street NE between Division Avenue and Library Plaza remains closed as crews work on the historic Keeler Building at 56 Division Ave. N. Additionally, Division Avenue will be restricted to one lane in each direction starting Sept. 4 for sidewalk work as part of the Keeler Building project. Fountain will remain closed and Division will have lane restrictions through mid-October.
To ease traffic congestion, the City is installing a left turn signal at Library and Division today. Additionally, officers from the GRCC and Grand Rapids police departments plan to direct traffic at several intersections during the first week of school to ensure a smooth traffic flow and the safety of drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Students and others traveling to or near the college campuses are encouraged to:
- Allow additional time – 20 to 30 minutes
- Consider riding the City’s DASH bus service or The Rapid’s fare-free Silver Line or carpooling
- Follow the posted detours
- Avoid blocking intersections
- Follow instructions from uniformed officers
For those traveling to GRCC, the detour routes are as follows:
From the North
- Pearl Street to Division, right on Division to Library Street and then left on Library Street to posted detours
- Division to Library Street, left on Library and then follow the posted detours
From the East
- Michigan Avenue to College, left on College to Lyon and then right on Lyon
- Fulton to Lafayette Street, right on Lafayette to Lyon and then left on Lyon
From the South
- Division to Fulton, right on Fulton to Ransom and then left on Ransom
- Division to Library, right on Library and then follow the posted detours
From the West
- Michigan to Bostwick Avenue or College and then right on either street
- College to Lyon, right on Lyon and then left on Ransom
Pedestrians are encouraged to cross Division at Lyon, Pearl and Library.
“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with GRCC to ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year for students and faculty,” said Chris Zull, the City’s traffic safety manager. “These efforts also benefit others who are driving, walking and riding their bikes downtown.”
GRCC leaders praised the collaboration between the organizations.
"Student safety is a top priority for GRCC, and we appreciate that our partners in the city government are taking these extra steps with us to help everyone get to class and start the school year off in the best possible way,” said Eric Mullen, GRCC's associate dean of enrollment management and financial aid.
Updates on other road closures and construction projects in Grand Rapids are available HERE or by calling 311 or (616) 456-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
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