OKEMOS - For those traveling on north Okemos between Interstate 96 and Sandhill Road may have noticed a few detours and delays.

"Well I work over here and I’ve been late to work every day for the past two weeks, and it's really annoying, I keep getting in trouble and even if I call I never know what time I'll be there because I never know what the traffic will be like there," said Lansing resident Sha-Marie Piper who navigates Okemos Road on a daily basis.

Since the beginning of June, Okemos Road, north of Interstate 96 and south of Sandhill, have been under construction to accommodate the new 1,000 employees at the Jackson Life Insurance location, or JNL.

"A traffic study was preformed, and it was recommended that additional turn lanes be provided to reduce congestion and reduce chances of crashes of vehicles turning," said Bill Conklin, Managing Director of the Ingham County Road Department. "The road project is intended to facilitate smoother and safer flow traffic to and from that location."

So to do so, the project consists of reconstructing Okemos Road from two lanes to three lanes though the Okemos and Sandhill intersection installing traffic light signals at the Okemos Road, widening Okemos Road to four lanes along the JNL Building and matching the number of lanes provided at the east bound ramp of I-96. The project also includes installation of traffic signals at the Okemos Road and Sandhill Road intersection and at the southern Jackson National Life Insurance driveway and Okemos Road.

The project cost approximately $2.79 million dollars and is funded by a State of Michigan, Transportation Economic Development Fund, Category A grant and JNL matching funds.

And while this project is intended to increase safety in the future, Piper said the drive can be chaotic because of all the construction and detours.

"It's kind of a crap shoot," Piper said. "You have to pay attention to what everyone around else is doing so you’re not getting in an accident or causing one yourself."

According to the Ingham County Sheriff's Office, there hasn't been any major accidents reported due to the construction site but Conklin says it's important to say cautious and alert when maneuvering the area.

"If drivers use caution and follow the directions on the sign as they normally should in any construction zone, there really shouldn't be any problems, traffic safety wise during construction," Conklin said.

Construction was set to be completed by Labor Day, but due to a few delays, it has been pushed back to early September.

These changes are apart of a larger project to reduce traffic congestion and increase safety near the Okemos and Jolly Road intersection due to more businesses moving in the area.

A new building is currently under construction on Okemos Road near the new Culver's. The building will house a Sunoco gas station with a Dunkin Doughnuts and Jimmy Johns. Sunoco and Dunkin Doughnuts is relocating from it's current location at the intersection of Okemos and Jolly Road, which will leave the current location vacant.