The City of Kalamazoo is launching a free shuttle service to help residents and customers navigate to businesses impacted by major construction projects. The service will run through Sept. 20 or until work is completed on Westnedge Avenue.

The free Metro Connect rides can be scheduled up to seven days in advance and no later than the previous day by 5 p.m. They will take riders to a variety of businesses including Midtown Marketplace, Mid-Town Fresh, Ace Hardware, Oak Street Health, Everside Health, Happy’s Pizza, Paris Cleaners, PNC Bank, and Heilman’s Nuts & Confections.

The new service is meant to help make it easier for residents to get to businesses in the area, which has been impacted by a utility project on Westnedge Avenue. The construction has created closures on Crosstown and Westnedge, making it difficult to reach businesses in the area.

“We recognize that this area is especially hard hit during this construction season that is bringing major investments to every one of Kalamazoo’s utilities and street reconstruction all over the city,” explained City of Kalamazoo Public Services Director James Baker. “This area and these businesses are at the center of a major utility project to improve water system reliability, so we are hoping that the Metro Connect service will help lessen some of the impact on them and their customers while these critical investments are completed.”

Baker says that all businesses in the area remain open and accessible. He encourages residents to also use local access routes, including Burdick Street to Maple Street to Park Street, or via Stadium Drive or Oakland Drive to Howard Street to Midtown Marketplace.​