After many years of planning (and a few more years of legal wrangling), a state-of-the-art scientific facility has broken ground in Traverse City.

But what exactly is FishPass? What will it do and why is it here? What will it mean for the river and the general public? This week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, looks at all those questions and more. As writer Art Bukowski notes, one thing’s for certain: Those involved could not be more excited that the enterprise has moved from concept to construction.

“For the people who have envisioned this project, it’s their life’s work, and for many of us, this is the biggest thing that any of us have ever worked on,” says Leah McCallum, a spokesperson for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a lead partner in the project. “We are enthusiastic to the point where there are often tears when we get on our monthly calls or walk the site together.”

Read more about the history of FishPass - and next steps in the process for the historic project - in this week's Northern Express. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.