Michigan Avenue is now closed until at least next Spring in downtown Battle Creek.

The city shut down the street between Capital Avenue Southwest and McCamly Streets as crews work on the historic Heritage Tower building at 25 West Michigan Avenue.

The closure will also cause a minor change to the route of the annual Christmas Parade on November 17th at 6pm.. The detour will add four turns as the route turns south on McCamly, east on Jackson, and then north on Capital to get back to Michigan Avenue.  Organizers say it should add about 10 minutes to the parade's duration.

BC Christmas Parade Provided
BC Christmas Parade Provided
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The city says the project’s contractor determined that the traffic shift in place does not allow enough room for the heavy equipment required to set up exterior scaffolding needed to move materials. This stage of work involves construction on upper floors of the 19-story building.

Traffic can still use the north exit of the parking lot next to Riverwalk Center, and motorists can still drive on Michigan Avenue, as long as they approach from McCamly.  The barricades are up half-way down the block, in front of Griffin Grille & Pub.

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To allow for this change, the following now will be in place between Capital Avenue SW and the pedestrian crosswalk at Riverwalk Centre:

  • West Michigan will be completely closed to traffic between Capital Avenue SW and Riverwalk Centre. A detour will be in place using Van Buren Street.
  • There will be no street parking on either side of this section of West Michigan.
  • There will be no pedestrian access on the south side of West Michigan in this section, in front of Heritage Tower.
  • Pedestrians can access the north side of West Michigan, but barricades will stop them from crossing in the section with the traffic shift.
  • The Riverwalk parking structure will remain accessible from both sides of the main lot level.

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