No one seems to like it, but project to shrink E. Michigan Avenue in Jackson still possible

JACKSON COUNTY, MI — John Knibloe opposes any reduction to East Michigan Avenue in Blackman Township.

It could create a “bottleneck,” and lead to more crashes, he said. “They got so much traffic out there right now, the streets can’t handle it,” said Knobloe, whose family has owned Knibloe Hardware at 1612 E. Michigan Ave. since 1926.

Both Blackman Township and Jackson County representatives have declared they are against the project too, but the Michigan Department of Transportation is still considering it.

The proposed project would reduce Michigan Avenue to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane between Page Avenue and Ganson Street.

The $30 million project will rebuild the road from Page Avenue to just east of U.S. 127. However, lanes will only be reduced between Pa