March 28, 2024

Summer Road Projects Ahead

April 8, 2016

Everyone knows there are two seasons in Michigan: winter and road construction – an old joke, but one that residents acknowledge has more than a little truth to it. Weather ravages and the steady erosion of pavement from cars and trucks mean detours, flag persons, and signs bearing the dreaded words "One Lane Road Ahead."

Different counties present different challenges, priorities and sources of funding, from state grants to local taxes. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for state and national trunklines, such as US-2, I-75 and any of the M- roads (M-72, M-32, etc.) with county road commissions overseeing local roads.

Here’s what drivers around our region can expect in the coming months:

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY

One major project on US-131 runs from the junction of M-32 to the south limits of Boyne Falls. James Lake of MDOT calls it "pretty significant," which may be understated. The work will include repairing potholes, installing a thin crush-relief layer, and topping it with a new layer of pavement. This will make the road several inches higher, necessitating additional shoulder work to keep it level and safe. The work is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks and end in late October or early November. While a lengthy timeline, Ed Grice, Boyne Mountain CEO, is relatively optimistic regarding the disruption to traffic and his business.

"They seem to have a sound plan to keep traffic disruptions to a minimum," he said. "Their plan is to keep lane closures to a onemile-at-a-time section. Lane closures will end by 3pm daily and no weekend or holiday work is scheduled. The MDOT folks have been very helpful and have done a great job of keeping in contact with us."

Other projects include reconstructing Deer Lake Road from M-75 to Boyne City- East Jordan Road and Korthase Road from M-32 to the county line, and in Antrim County as well. This will involve trenching, grading, drainage improvements, and crushing and shaping Deer Lake while paving Korthase.

The roads will be reduced to one lane while work – scheduled to be completed no later than Sept. 23 – is completed. Ellsworth Road at the East Jordan city limit to the Antrim County line will also be redone. That work is to be completed by Nov. 1.

GRAND TRAVERSE

The closing of Cass Road south of South Airport Road is the largest project slated for Grand Traverse County. The work on the new bridge over the Boardman River is expected to continue through the end of August, necessitating a detour.

Road Commission Manager Jim Cook points to another sizeable project: a six-mile stretch of Williamsburg Road from M-72 to Supply Road. The road won’t be shut down, but there will be lane shifts and lane closures.

Numerous smaller projects are on the docket, as well. Cook said the monies generated by the county’s millage over the past three years have resulted in long term savings in areas like filling potholes. He is looking for an extension of the millage on a fouryear basis, with elections coinciding with national elections.

In Traverse City proper, work continues on some projects left from last year, as the city moves ahead, despite some weather delays. Garland between Hall Street and Union/Grandview Parkway will be totally reconstructed, including adding a crosswalk and sidewalks. Franklin Street between East Front Street and Washington is slated for reconstruction, as well. Both will require detours, while sidewalk construction on Grandview Parkway will require some lane closures. Similar sidewalk construction on Munson by Northwestern Michigan College may also require lane closures.

MISSAUKEE

In Missaukee County, a grant is providing funds to repair three bridges. Lucas Road over Hopkins Creek, Star City Road over the north branch of the Muskegon River, and Vandermeulen Road over the Clam River will all be repaired this summer. The first of the three projects is slated to begin mid-May, with the last being completed by Nov. 1.

Manager Kelly Bekken said each of the three will necessitate detours, though the latter two will be fairly short.

Images courtesy of the Michigan Department of Transportation

WEXFORD

There are no large-scale road construction plans for Wexford County, but several smaller projects will necessitate one-lane roads for a time. They include an overlay on nine miles of 16 Road from 31 Road West to M-37 and on 31 Road North of 16 Road. The number of miles for the second portion will be determined by the availability of funding, which will not be confirmed for a couple of weeks.

There will also be 30 miles of chip seals on primary roads throughout the county, as well as several small culvert replacements.

OTSEGO

Motorists can expect to encounter onelane traffic on Mountain Jack Road and Meridian Lane Road. The former is construction on a two-mile portion of road beginning Apr. 18 and ending by July 4. Meridian Lane is a half-mile stretch of work, with duration and dates yet to be determined.

BENZIE

The largest scale project in the county is MDOT’s work on M-115 between Benzonia and Frankfort. It will take much of the summer to complete, with lane closures rather than re-routing traffic.

Another is the reconstruction of Lindy Road between the Thompsonville village limits and M-115. That project is going out to bid in May and Benzie Road Commission Manager Matt Skeels anticipates work will begin sometime in June, lasting approximately two weeks.

Other projects include Reynolds Road from US-31 to Cinder Road, Goose Road from East End, and Herring Road from Gorivan to M-22. Skeels said he anticipates the duration and inconvenience to motorists to be relatively small.

EMMET

Three projects will potentially delay or detour motorists. First is the Brutus Road bridge project, slated to begin Aug. 1 and be completed by Nov. 1, with traffic detoured during construction.

Construction on Resort Pike Road is anticipated to begin around the same time and conclude Sept. 15. There will not be a detour, but there will be lane closures.

Work will begin on reconstructing Atkins Road between Division and Cedar Valley after school ends, sometime between mid-June and early July. It will include digging material from the roadbed, resulting in some lane closures. The completion date is yet to be determined.

MANISTEE

Just more than one mile of Seaman Road from 12 Mile Road to Hoxeyville Road will be resurfaced, which includes trenching, resurfacing, drainage, tree removal, intersection improvements and new signage. It will begin in September and is expected to be completed by Nov. 11.

Seaman Road (within the project) will be closed to through traffic during construction, and traffic will be detoured. Access to residential and commercial drives within the limits of the project will be maintained at all times, with minimal disruption, and emergency vehicle access to the site will be maintained at all times.

LEELANAU

Last year’s massive August windstorm toppled thousands of trees and damaged and weakened many of those still standing. Dan Wagner of the Leelanau County Road Commission said clearing debris and dangerous trees was, and remains, a priority.

There is a silver lining: work on Brooks Road was being put off due to the road commission having to take down trees, which nature did instead. That project is expected to take no more than two weeks.

ANTRIM

A three-and-a-half mile portion of C42, Alba Highway, is slated for overlay work this summer. The construction is taking up where last year’s left off, and is scheduled to begin late July/early August. It will involve lane closures, and is expected to take a couple weeks.

KALKASKA

The largest project in Kalkaska County is reconstructing a bridge on West Sharon Road over the Manistee River. The project will force motorists to detour during construction, slated to begin June 14 and be completed by Aug. 19.

The other major project will be four miles of Starvation Lake Road. Construction on the first mile will force short detours, while the remainder will utilize lane closures. John Rogers, county road commission manager, expects construction to begin in June with a completion date of Sept. 1.

To stay up to date on road construction projects across the state, visit Michigan.gov/ drive or download the free MI Drive app from iTunes and Google Play. You can also follow MDOT’s North Region Twitter feed at twitter. com/MDOT_Traverse.

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