WALKER, Mich. — Changes are coming to a popular shopping center in Kent County as the City of Walker confirmed Tuesday that work has begun on a roundabout at the Green Ridge Square Shopping Center off Alpine Avenue.
The roundabout will be replacing a traffic signal. Walker's engineer previously told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that they considered many different ways to improve the traffic light at the corner of Center and Weatherford, which is near the Target and Hobby Lobby right off Alpine.
City Engineer Scott Conners said back in 2023 that he knows the intersection has been trouble for drivers and the signal needed to be replaced anyway.
Conners added that the project will fix both the issues for drivers and help improve access points to the businesses.
"With 60,000 cars a day or up to 60,000 cars a day on Alpine, that tends to be a big problem, because the trouble from Alpine bleeds into Center Drive," Conners said. "So, our hope is that with the roundabout, we can remove some of the difficult left turns that are there and make the access to the various commercial uses a whole lot better."
Conners said he believes this roundabout will come with a lot of benefits, including not having to wait at the red light anymore.
The City of Walker said work is expected to last until late August.
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