Construction Season Is Coming: Preparing for Grandview Parkway Phase 2

Work to start in April for the 2.2-mile rebuild from Division to Cherry Bend

By Victor Skinner | Feb. 22, 2025

Construction underway to relocate utilities under what will be a new roundabout at the M-72/M-22 intersection in Traverse City is expected to conclude in early March, about a month before work to rebuild a 2.2-mile section of Grandview Parkway is set to begin.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is again partnering with Team Elmers on the $25.8 million project from Division Street to Cherry Bend Road, expected to last into November.

“Currently, the road work is scheduled to start in mid-April. We have the potential to start early if the weather allows,” says James Lake, MDOT spokesman for the project.

“If weather allows, there’s a potential they could start in the middle part of March,” MDOT engineer Jim Johnson adds.

What to Expect

Current road closures and detours will conclude with utility work next month, with minimal disruptions to traffic through the rest of the year, though officials note periodic temporary closures with flag control may be necessary at times.

“There will be some short-term closures, but generally speaking our intent is to have one lane open in each direction,” Lake says. “The entire corridor is going to be challenging at peak travel times.”

The work involves surface and drainage improvements, new curbs and gutters, storm sewer, and culverts. There’s also improved public transit stops, and an M-72/M-22 roundabout that incorporates the Bay Street intersection.

“It’s much more than just a roundabout,” Lake says. “It’s a full reconstruction of the corridor.”

Other elements include upgraded traffic signals at Cherry Bend Road and high-intensity activated crosswalk signals, commonly referred to as HAWK signals, for pedestrians west and north of the roundabout and at Discovery Pier.

“We’re also planning to build refuge islands [for pedestrian crossings]—raised curb sections in the turn lane so they have refuge halfway across,” Lake says. “There will be more opportunities for safe and comfortable crossings for bicyclists and pedestrians.”

Will It Be Like 2024?

Throughout construction, MDOT expects “more direct access [to businesses] than last year,” when some were cut off from traffic for extended periods, Lake says.

“It’s just less complicated because there’s no vehicle detours” after the utility work, Traverse City engineer Anne Pagano says.
That’s somewhat of a relief for Lori Buchan, owner of Buchan’s West Bay ice cream shop, located at Grandview Road and Bay Shore Drive, across from the Elmwood Township Marina.

“We’re just going to hope it’s going to slow us down, not shut us down,” Buchan says. “We’re worried, but I think in the long run, it will be a good thing.”

While access is expected to remain open, the timing of the construction could be critical, she says.

“July and August are our two busiest months, so that could make or break us,” Buchan says, “but we’ll figure something out.”

“We’re just going to take it day by day,” she says.

Weathering the Impact

At Tom’s Food Markets, West Bay, owners Ed and Nancy Sands have worked closely with Traverse Connect, MDOT, DTE, and Traverse City Light and Power to prepare for any impacts and communicate what’s coming to customers.

“I think the community and our customers are slightly concerned,” says Ed. “They’ve been asking a lot of questions.”

To ensure they get the answers they need, Tom’s put up an in-store banner, and distributed flyers to customers “to try to get them some advanced notice,” he says.

“We’re targeting specific communities where we draw our customers from,” Nancy says, to ensure they realize “that our M72 entrance will be open and accessible.”

Tom’s also offers online ordering, curbside service, and delivery, along with services available through DoorDash and Stocked, a local pre-arrival delivery service that caters to vacation rentals.

“We’re learning as we go along, but the big thing is communication,” Nancy says. “We feel like we are prepared for this situation and we’re trying our best to work with MDOT, DTE, and TCLP.”

Once the work is complete, “we’re hopeful the roundabout will help relieve and improve the traffic flow,” Ed says. “The intersection is a challenge, and we see it and we know it.”

It’s a similar perspective for Adrienne Burnette, managing partner with Honest Hospitality TC, owners of The Burrow restaurant along Bay Shore Drive.

“We opened The Burrow knowing the potential the area has and this infrastructure is a huge step in the right direction,” Burnette says. “Is the construction going to impact business? I’m not naive enough to think it won’t have some effect, but as a restaurateur, I also permanently live in a season of perpetual hope because that is how I stay resilient in an already challenging industry. I’m confident that our guests are willing to navigate a little congestion to join us. They do it all summer when it’s gridlocked anyway.”

Burnette noted that unlike M-22 reconstruction years ago that restricted traffic to one lane, the 2025 construction will maintain the flow in both directions.

“We don’t have any direct plans to mitigate the impact, mainly because we are hoping we won’t need to. Of course, if we need to pivot, we’ll pivot,” she says. “But I believe in our brand, our product, and most of all I believe in our wonderful guests who are so supportive.”

Beyond the Road

The road construction will bring with it other work, as well, including improvements to non-motorized pathways along the shoreline and construction at West End Beach. The former will provide a 12-foot wide shared use path along the Grandview Parkway, as well as a 5-foot wide sidewalk on the west side of M-22 and a 10-foot wide path on the east side of M-22.

The latter could restrict access to the popular West End Beach for weeks to months to repair damage from high water several years ago, but the timing and extent of the disruption remains to be seen. Traverse City is currently soliciting bids for the project, which involves reconstruction of the parking lot, a gravel foundation for bathrooms and utility, sidewalk, curb and gutter work.

“Depending on how the timing works, if the commission approves the contract, we may be under construction at the same time” road and path work is underway, Pagano says. “We’re working with MDOT to hopefully time that just right.”

The timing of the bid process, meetings with the chosen contractor, and schedule for construction is “all still in the works,” she explains. “I’m not sure exactly how long the construction will take,” Pagano says.

Traverse City’s request for proposal for the project lists a submittal due date of March 6. “A Consultant Agreement for Professional Services for Construction Testing is anticipated to be authorized in March of 2025,” it reads. “Construction is anticipated to occur in the Spring of 2025.”

In the meantime, city officials are working with MDOT, Team Elmers, and others to keep the public updated on all aspects of the reconstruction work this summer, with meetings now to plan for the months ahead.

“Last year, we met about every three weeks leading up [to construction] to have a full scale layout on how everything will take place,” says Colleen Paveglio, the city’s communications manager. “We’ve already started those conversations with this project.”

“We felt the 2024 plan was a success on how we communicated,” she concludes, “so we hope this will be the same.”