Capitol News

To complete paving at the new roundabout at the M-72/M-22 intersection in Traverse City and Elmwood Township, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will detour M-72 traffic for one day on Monday, October 27, weather permitting. The paving work began on October 20 but was delayed due to rain.

During this period, M-72 will be closed at the intersection with M-22 in Traverse City/Elmwood Township to just west of the intersection near Tom’s Food Market. The closure will affect through-traffic from Gray Road/Bugai Road to Bay Street. However, all businesses along M-72 will remain open and accessible throughout the project.

Eastbound traffic heading toward Traverse City will be rerouted via Gray Road, Cedar Run Road, West Front Street, and US-31/M-37 (Division Street) back to M-72. A temporary traffic signal will be set up at the Cedar Run Road/Harris Road intersection. Westbound traffic leaving Traverse City will follow a similar detour in reverse. While M-72 and M-22 between US-31/M-37 (Division Street) and Cherry Bend Road will stay open under traffic regulators’ control, vehicles will not be able to proceed west on M-72 at the roundabout.

MDOT is nearing completion of a $25.8 million project that involves rebuilding a 2.2-mile section of M-72 (Grandview Parkway) from Division Street in Traverse City and M-22 (Bay Shore Drive) to Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township this year. The work includes removing old pavement, improving drainage systems such as curbs and storm sewers, replacing sidewalks and nonmotorized paths, making upgrades for local transit buses, updating sidewalk ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, constructing a new roundabout at the intersection of M-72/M-22 that incorporates Bay Street, upgrading Cherry Bend Road’s traffic signals, and enhancing driveway access management where possible.

“These road closures will provide the safest work environment for paving crews,” MDOT stated.

The affected counties are Grand Traverse and Leelanau, with Elmwood Township and Traverse City being the closest communities impacted by these changes.