New Stoplight on Haymaker Closer to Running

The new traffic light at the reconstructed intersection of Haymaker Parkway, Erie Street and the Esplanade is nearly ready to start stopping traffic on the four-lane roadway.

The traffic light is being added as part of reopening the intersection with Haymaker Parkway and Erie Street downtown at the Kent Central Gateway transit center. That intersection had been closed for decades prior to the redevelopment work under way.

Kent City Engineer Jim Bowling said previously the new light should be running in June.

For now, Erie Street between Haymaker Parkway and South DePeyster Street remains closed.

"We don’t plan on opening Erie Street until the light is up and functioning," Bowling said.

Paving work is scheduled to start this evening on the section of Haymaker Parkway between Willow and South Water streets as part of the downtown redevelopment.

After the street is repaved, contractors will install the brick pathway in the road that will extend the Esplanade across Haymaker Parkway and into downtown.