Between downtown bridge work, a multi-month project to add a highway median on part of US-31 in Acme, and plenty of conversation and planning around the eventual reconstruction of Grandview Parkway, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has had a prevalent presence in the Grand Traverse area this year. Will future years be as busy? The Ticker looks ahead at what projects MDOT has coming down the pike in 2023 and beyond. MDOT representatives will also be on hand at Monday’s city commission study session to present this project slate to Traverse City commissioners.

April-July 2023, Chums Corner projects
One of the big intersections MDOT is eyeing for improvements next year is the junction of US-31 and M-37 at Chums Corner. That job is actually two separate projects: First, in April, MDOT will start traffic signal modernization work, which will involve the removal and replacement of the existing traffic signal and strain poles. The new signal, which will incorporate pedestrian signals and crosswalks, is anticipated to be complete by mid-June. Traffic will be maintained during work, with single-lane closures and lane shifts where necessary.

That project will be followed by concrete pavement repairs and patching, concrete joint replacement, and resealing at the same intersection. That work is expected to occur July 9-21. Northbound and southbound traffic will be maintained on US-31 with lane shifts, while westbound and eastbound traffic on M-37 will be detoured to the nearby US-31/Rennie School Road intersection.

May-June 2023, S Division Street improvements
Starting in May 2023, MDOT will be conducting road resurfacing and other improvements on S Division Street (US-31) from South Airport to 14th Street and from 10th Street to Grandview Parkway. Per MDOT, this work “consists of the milling of the existing asphalt and the application of a one course asphalt overlay with barrier free ramp upgrades, miscellaneous curb and gutter replacement, drainage structure repairs, traffic signal sensor installations, and improvements at road approaches.” MDOT plans to complete most of the $2.23 million project as night work to minimize traffic impacts. Work is anticipated to finish up by the end of June.

2023 and 2024, Grandview Parkway rebuild
Here’s the big one. MDOT will invest an estimated $27,243,037 in the reconstruction of Grandview Parkway, from 500 feet west of Division and running east to the north side of the M-37 North/Garfield Avenue intersection. This much-discussed project will involve rebuilding that entire two-mile stretch of Grandview Parkway, including asphalt, curb and gutter, sidewalk, drainage improvements, and repairs to Murchie Bridge. The project will also redesign several intersections along the route to incorporate more crossings and other pedestrian or cyclist-friendly features.

MDOT initially planned to tackle the majority of the Grandview Parkway rebuild next year, but moved the project back to avoid conflicts with remaining city bridgework and to allow more time to order materials. However, MDOT documents indicate that “some preparatory work, such as work on the detour route, will be completed in the 2023 construction season once the city has completed their two bridge reconstruction projects.”

The bulk of the project is still planned for the 2024 construction season, with MDOT splitting work into two segments – one from Garfield Avenue to Front Street, and one from Front Street to Division Street. “Work would begin on the eastern segment where the city utility work is required, detouring westbound traffic on Eighth Street and Railroad Avenue, with segment completion prior to National Cherry Festival,” MDOT documents say. “Following the festival, work would begin on the western segment, with lane closures and traffic shifts for both directions of traffic.”

Further details are available on the dedicated website that MDOT has set up for the project.

2024, M-72 work
MDOT is also eyeing the 2024 road construction season for some work on M-72, including milling and resurfacing of asphalt, drainage improvements, guardrail work, and shoulder widening. The project will affect M-72 from the Bugai Road/Gray Road intersection running east to Bay Street. Per MDOT, M-72 traffic will be “maintained with flaggers” throughout the project.

2025, US-31 work in and around Interlochen
Another major project on MDOT’s horizon is this $22.3 million reconstruction of US-31 in the Interlochen area. The project will affect over six miles of highway, from Sullivan Road (near the Interlochen Go-Go Squeeze plant) and running west to Reynolds Road. According to MDOT, planned work includes “the removal of the existing composite pavement full-depth and replacement with hot-mix asphalt or concrete.” The project will also add center-left turn lanes to the corridor where possible, widen paved shoulders to eight feet, and potentially make additional improvements. For instance, Phillips says MDOT is considering design alternatives for the Interlochen Corners intersection, where US-31 bisects S Long Lake Road and J Maddy Parkway, “including a possible roundabout.” MDOT assures that a public meeting “will be scheduled soon to discuss this project” and to familiarize locals with the key details.

2025, Grandview Parkway Phase Two
MDOT will return to Grandview Parkway in 2025 to tackle the next major stretch of the road, from 500 feet west of Division Street running northwest to the M-72 intersection and then continuing north on M-22 to Cherry Bend Road. That 2.2-mile project bears a $16.64 million price tag and will involve removing existing concrete and asphalt pavement, restoring the surface, addressing drainage problems, replacing sidewalks and nonmotorized paths, and making sidewalk ramps ADA-compliant. In addition, MDOT indicates taht the intersection at M-72 and M-22 “is planned to be reconstructed as a roundabout” – a possibility previously reported by The Ticker in June. Further details are available on MDOT’s dedicated public website for the project.

2026, US-31/Three Mile Road intersection overhaul
A major source of gridlock in East Bay Township is this intersection – particularly the always-busy left turn lane from westbound US-31 onto Three Mile. MDOT will revamp that section of the roadway in 2026 with the addition of a second left turn lane. MDOT is currently working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on “adjusting the locations of the access drives to the State Park Beach and the State Park” to make way for the redesign.

TBA, M-37 reconstruction
Eventually, MDOT plans to tackle the section of M-37 between the Center Road/Peninsula Drive intersection and the intersection with US-31 and Garfield Avenue. That project will entail resurfacing the road and incorporating potential enhancements at the intersections of southbound Peninsula Drive and Eastern Avenue and northbound Peninsula Drive/Center Road.

According to MDOT, there is no firm timeline on this project yet because it is funded in part by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with the rest of the funding still a question mark. “We have only secured funding for preliminary engineering for this project and are beginning work on this project as a shelf job. We will be proposing this project as a candidate in a future annual call for projects and seeking funding for the construction phase. As the city is also evaluating this corridor for pedestrian enhancements, we are hoping that an opportunity exists where we could develop our projects collaboratively that would mutually benefit our respective interests.”

Other projects
While the above list encapsulates the projects MDOT currently has on the books in the Traverse City area over the next four years, other projects will almost certainly come up for the latter half of that period. Per Krista Phillips, operations engineer for MDOT’s Traverse City Transportation Service Center, MDOT plans its larger reconstruction projects out 5-6 years into the future,” while “the smaller preventative maintenance projects – like milling and overlays, chip seals, etc. – we only plan 1-2 years into the future.”

“So, there will likely be other smaller projects that may pop up in 2025 and later,” Phillips tells The Ticker. “And of course, there is always ongoing construction as needed for permit work, utility work, and general maintenance work.”