US-31/M-72 (Grandview Parkway) traffic shift expected next week

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation and prime contractor Team Elmers expect to move US-31/M-72 (Grandview Parkway) traffic to the newly paved eastbound lanes and begin work on the westbound lanes late Wednesday, weather and schedule permitting.

The shift marks the beginning of the next stage of the $24.7 million US-31/M-72 (Front Street and Grandview Parkway) project in Traverse City. Crews are finishing up new pavement on the eastbound lanes of the Parkway and will begin removing the old pavement of the westbound lanes once traffic is moved to the new portion. As with the first stage of Segment 2, there will be one lane open in each direction.

"Despite losing some progress due to the discovery of unsuitable road base materials that needed to be removed, and a brief delay due to the discovery of human remains, Team Elmers kept working on other portions of the project and got us back on track," said MDOT Traverse City Transportation Service Center (TSC) Construction Engineer Jim Johnson. "As we begin this last stage of the project, we can really see the end is in sight."

Turns at the US-31/Front Street intersection will still be restricted until next week. After that, drivers will be able to turn from eastbound US-31 onto Front Street but will not be able to turn from Front Street onto US-31 until Segment 2 is completed and all lanes are open.

Most intersections with US-31/Grandview Parkway on the south side will reopen once the eastbound lanes are completed. Due to excavation and underground utility work, the West End Beach parking lot entrance and the R. B. Park parking lot entrances will be closed for the duration of the next stage of construction. Access to the marina will alternate between Marina Drive and the Duncan L. Clinch Yacht Harbor driveway as work progresses.

While crews are working on the Grandview Parkway/Front Street intersection portion of Segment 2, pedestrians will be detoured across Front Street and Grandview Parkway at the Barlow Street signalized crossing and the Murchie Bridge underpass. While crews are working on the Division Street/Grandview Parkway intersection, pedestrians will be detoured to the High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK (HAWK) signal crossing at the Elmwood Street/Grandview Parkway intersection and the signalized crossing at the Division Street/East Front Street intersection. The Cass Street tunnel will be open except when work is occurring in close proximity.

The TART trail from east of Cass Street to east of the Murchie Bridge will be closed, as well as some portions by the open space, during this stage with pedestrian and bicycle traffic detoured.

More information on the project schedule, as well as detour route maps for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, is available on the US-31/M-72 project website.

In addition to rebuilding the roadway, this project will include replacing concrete curb and gutter, upgrading sidewalk and ramps, improving storm sewer, and repairing the Murchie Bridge over the Boardman River. The City of Traverse City also is investing $3.5 million to replace underground water and wastewater utilities as part of the contract.

Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 351 jobs.