Lansing Small Businesses Need Our Help During Construction

I know even mentioning the words "construction" or "road work" are triggering for Michiganders. Lansing residents in particular at the moment.

127 is an absolute mess. Stretches of Grand River Ave in Lansing and East Lansing have had random lane closures, as had Saginaw in East Lansing and Haslett.

Road Work and Construction in Lansing

And while 127 might seem like the worst bit of construction at the moment, I would argue that it's the Michigan Avenue Corridor project that is actually having some of the worse effects.

With 127 having lanes shut down and a lane shift, that definitely impacts travel and its timeliness. However, the construction on Michigan Avenue is not only affecting traffic, it's affecting local businesses and our community members.

Local Lansing Businesses Need Help

Local small businesses along Michigan Avenue are starting to feel the effects of the loss of foot traffic. Not only that, but vehicles haven't been able to drive certain stretches of Michigan Avenue for months, and that is hurting these businesses too.

Get our free mobile app

Businesses along Michigan Avenue have been hurting so much that signs have gone up along westbound Grand River and eastbound Saginaw informing drivers that they can still access the businesses along Michigan Ave.

Michigan Avenue businesses aren't the only ones feeling the pain from these temporary changes. The bridge on South Washington in REO Town closed last week, and since then, the owner of Deadtime Stories: True Crime and Other Books in REO Town has come forward to speak about the struggles that small business owners are facing.

All this to say, we should make sure we get out there and support our local businesses. The people that own these businesses are our friends, family, and community members. And the money that is spent in those businesses will in turn be put right back into our community.

Read Related: A New Business is Coming to REO Town in Lansing

The People's Kitchen even released an email to offer a discount to employees of businesses along Michigan Avenue, offering 15% discount to all employees of businesses on Michigan Avenue. Just show proof of your business and The People's Kitchen will take care of you!

So take a little extra time, allow yourself some extra time to navigate those detours and help support those local Lansing businesses.