Local officials made the most of a snowy Monday morning. The Michigan Department of Transportation was joined by state and local officials and partners for a “groundbreaking” to mark the start of a $25.8 million investment to rebuild portions of M-72 and M-22 in Traverse City and Elmwood Township.
Local resident Adam Burks travels from Traverse City to Northport daily for construction jobs and remains in pretty good spirits at the beginning of construction season.
“I commute this every day; it will be slower for a while. But so far, it hasn’t,” he said while pumping gas. “In the summer, it’s always slow (in the afternoon). If you can change your schedule, it’s always worth doing. But 5 p.m. is the worst ... (in the morning) it’s busy, but traffic moves.”
Another local resident, Brett Poineau, travels the intersection of M-72 and M-22 every day and reports that the construction is not too crazy as of Tuesday.
“With any project like this it does take a community,” said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich in a press release. “We’re trying to talk with everybody we can to make sure that these projects really fit what the people need.” Elmwood Township Supervisor Jeff Shaw joined Wiefrich.
Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe, TART Trails Director Julie Clark, and Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) Director of Communications and Development Eric Lingaur.
“Projects like this are huge, and there’s obviously some issues that can come up and be part of that, but when you talk to MDOT, they answer, and they work with us to make sure we get this done,” said State Rep. John Roth, who was also in attendance.
Work started Friday on the project to rebuild 2.2 miles of M-72 (Grandview Parkway) from Division Street in Traverse City and M-22 (Bay Shore Drive) to Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township. It is scheduled to be completed by mid-November.
The project includes removing the concrete and composite (asphalt over concrete) pavements and restoring the surface condition and ride quality to good condition; drainage improvements, including curb and gutter, storm sewer, and culverts; replacing sidewalks and nonmotorized paths; improvements for local transit buses; upgrading sidewalk ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act standards; building a roundabout at the M-72/M-22 intersection that incorporates the Bay Street intersection; Cherry Bend Road traffic signal upgrades; and improving driveway access management where possible, according to a press release.
Initial work will include installing a temporary highintensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) pedestrian crossing signal north of the M-72/M-22 intersection, temporary roadway widening in the vicinity of the intersection and along the west side of M-22, traffic signal upgrades at Cherry Bend Road, beginning construction of the new roundabout, and pavement removal on the westbound/ northbound lanes.
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 246 jobs.
From late March to mid-May and from late June to late October, the TART trail on the west side of M-72/M-22 will be closed from Elmwood Avenue to the Leelanau Trail north of the M-72/M-22 intersection. Sidewalks on M-72 in the vicinity of the intersection and along Bay Street between M-72 and Ramsdell Street will be closed. The TART trail will be open only for pedestrian and bicycle traffic from Elmwood Avenue to Ramsdell Street to access the signalized crossing at Elmwood Avenue. During these phases, pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed to the HAWK signal at Elmwood Avenue and the temporary HAWK signal north of the M-72/M-22 intersection. The TART trail on the east side of M-72/M-22 will remain open during these phases.
From mid-May to late June, the TART trail on the east side of M-72/M-22 from Division Street to north of the M-72/M-22 intersection, and the TART Trail on the west side of M-72/M-22 from Elmwood Avenue to the M-72/M-22 intersection, will be closed. The signalized crossings across M-72/M-22 intersection will also be closed. During this phase, pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured on the TART trail on the west side M-72 between Division Street and Elmwood Avenue and on the Bay Street sidewalk to a temporary signalized crossing on M-72.
