Lansing MI

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Expect more delays along Michigan Avenue from Sparrow Hospital to East Lansing as Lansing reconstructs the busy thoroughfare for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.

The estimated $11.62 million project is expected to being in "late 2023 and continue through 2024," the city said in a press release. It would reconfigure the five-lane road into a four-lane thoroughfare, adding dedicated bike lanes on both sides and eliminating an eastbound lane.

The bike lanes have long been advocated for by local bicycling advocates.

Phases of the project have yet to be finalized, the city said in the release.

Michigan Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to Clippert Street will be under construction for the project. Along with the road improvements, the project calls for modernized traffic signals, replaced sidewalks and utility upgrades.

More:Lansing cyclists advocate for bike lanes in Michigan Avenue reconstruction plan

"This project is an opportunity to rebuild the infrastructure along the Michigan Avenue corridor in a way that balances its role as an important connection between downtown and East Lansing with the support it provides to the businesses and neighborhoods along it," Public Service Director Andy Kilpatrick said in the release.

A request for comment was not immediately returned by Kilpatrick.

So far, the city has received $6.46 million from the federal government, $1.61 million in local funds and $3.55 million in utility funds. The city said in the release funding is subject to change as bids are received.

Last year, cyclists urged the city to include them in the road's reconstruction plan as they told the State Journal they fear for their safety when commuting.

"If we design our infrastructure to be safe, ...the safety practices will spread from beyond cyclists ... to pedestrian traffic," Mike Tuell said in September.

Michigan Avenue averages more than 15,000 drivers a day, according to state traffic volume data, and gets mainly poor reviews from the bicyclists because of debris, vegetation, uneven pavement and threat of drivers swinging parked car doors open.

East Lansing has dedicated bike lanes in the city's portion of the road.

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LANSING — A candlelight vigil for 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith, her parents and family is planned for Saturday evening at the State Capitol.

Lansing resident Mackenzie Winton organized the vigil as a way to remember the slain toddler and bring the community together.

"I know a lot of her family are from Detroit and in Lansing, and there was a lot of people here that care about her and I thought to her, we should bring them here in Lansing," Winton said. "I reached out to the family to make sure it's OK and they said 'yes.' Hoping they'll be there tomorrow."

The event begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol steps. Wynter's father Almount Smith and his father will attend the vigil. Winton said she hadn't heard whether Wynter's mother, who was allegedly assaulted by Rashad Trice on Sunday, will attend.

A separate vigil is slated for 6 p.m. Friday at near First Church of the Redeemed, 9360 Van Dyke Ave. in Detroit.

Wynter was kidnapped late Sunday night after her mother was sexually assaulted and stabbed by an ex-boyfriend, police said. The girl's 1-year-old brother was not harmed. The suspect took the mother's car and fled with Wynter before being arrested in St. Clair Shores following a police chase. Trice currently faces 16 felony counts in connection with the attack and kidnapping.

Wynter's body was discovered Wednesday in a Detroit alley near Coleman A. Young International Airport.

Winton requested those attending Saturday's vigil wear purple in recognition of domestic violence, and because Wynter's dad said it was the girl's favorite color. A domestic violence survivors advocate is scheduled to speak at the event along with others, Winton confirmed.

"It is about baby Wynter, but it's about the mom and dad because they lost their kid and their families," she said. "The community is there for them."

Winton said those attending may make in-person financial donations to Wynter's father and paternal grandfather if they're unsure about making online donations.

The family said in a Facebook group that people should donate through the Dock Ellis Foundation, which focuses on assisting with minority missing persons cases across the country, by visiting DockEllisFoundation.com/donate, or via GoFundMe. The GoFundMe campaign has raised $1,980 of its target $50,000 as of press time. The family verified that is the only crowdfunding account set up for them.

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Pics of the construction info board at Lake Lansing Park South for improvements that already underway. Lemmy doesn't seem to support image zooming yet so please right click and open images in a new tab to see the full size with more legible text: