Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — Big changes are coming to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jackson. The “Martin Luther King Reimagined” project will upgrade the one-mile stretch between Morrell and South Streets.

With a $7.5 million budget, the U.S. Department of Transportation is covering most of the cost, while the city funds the rest.

The plan includes reducing lanes for better pedestrian safety, adding bump-outs, and temporarily making MLK Drive a one-way street. Construction starts in May 2025, with completion expected by the end of 2026.

Businesses along the route expect disruptions, but a separate $4.5 million grant will help them adjust and support a new grocery store on the Southside.