M-72 closure and detour required for utility relocation west of Traverse City beginning Feb. 3

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - M-72 will be closed just west of the M-22 intersection in Elmwood Township for approximately four weeks beginning Feb. 3 as utility companies DTE and Traverse City Light & Power have their underground utilities relocated beneath the roadway. The utilities’ contractor, Team Elmers, will perform the work under a permit from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). During the closure, M-72 traffic will be detoured on county roads and city streets.

The work is being done in preparation for MDOT's project to rebuild M-72 and M-22 from west of Division Street to Cherry Bend Road, which includes a new roundabout at the M-72/M-22 intersection, currently scheduled to begin in mid-April.

Counties:
Grand Traverse and Leelanau

Highway:
M-72

Closest communities:
Elmwood Township and Traverse City

Start date:
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 (weather permitting)

Estimated end date:
Monday, March 3, 2025

Traffic restrictions:
During this work, M-72 will be closed at Bay Street, just west of the M-72/M-22 intersection in Traverse City/Elmwood Township. M-72 will be closed to through-traffic from Gray Road/Bugai Road to Bay Street, but all businesses located along M-72 will remain open and accessible during the project.

M-22 will remain open between US-31/M-37 (Division Street) and Cherry Bend Road.

Due to the closure, M-72 traffic is currently expected to be detoured as follows:

• Eastbound M-72 traffic to northbound M-22 will be detoured north on South Bugai Road and east on Cherry Bend Road to M-22.
• Eastbound M-72 traffic to Traverse City will be detoured on Tilton Road, Cedar Run Road, West Front Street, and US-31/M-37 (Division Street) to M-72. A temporary traffic signal will be installed at the Cedar Run Road/Gray Road intersection.
• Westbound M-72 traffic from Traverse City will be detoured on US-31/M-37 (Division Street), West Front Street, Cedar Run Road, and Gray Road to M-72. A temporary traffic signal will be installed at the Cedar Run Road/Gray Road intersection.
• Southbound M-22 traffic to westbound M-72 will be detoured west on Cherry Bend Road and south on South Bugai Road to M-72.
• Eastbound M-72 truck traffic to northbound M-22 will be detoured north on South Bugai Road/South Lake Leelanau Drive (County Road 641), east on East Bingham Road, north on South Center Highway, and east on 4th Street to M-22.
• Eastbound M-72 truck traffic to the Elmwood Township/Greilickville area will detour north on Bugai Road and east on Cherry Bend Road to M-22.
• Southbound M-22 truck traffic to westbound M-72 will be detoured west on Cherry Bend Road and south on South Bugai Road.

Additional closures will include:

• Bay Street will be closed from M-72 to Ramsdell Street. Bay Street will also be closed to through-traffic at the intersections with US-31/M-37 (Division Street), Ramsdell Street, Monroe Street, Elmwood Avenue, Spruce Street, Cedar Street, and Wayne Street.
• East Carter Road will be closed to through-traffic from M-72 to M-22.
• Barney Road will be closed to through-traffic from Gray Road to Cedar Run Road.
• Harris Road will be closed to through-traffic from Cedar Run Road to Barney Road.
• East Lincoln Road will be closed to through-traffic from Bugai Road to Cherry Bend Road.

Sidewalks and the TART Trail on the northwest side of the M-72/M-22 intersection will be closed during the work, along with the sidewalk access across Bay Street on the south side of M-72. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured to the sidewalk on the east side of M-22 at the intersection with M-72, with crossings maintained at Elmwood Avenue, the south side of the M-72/M-22 intersection, and a temporary location at the Circle K fueling station, with access to the TART trail via the Larkin Group driveway. Directional signs for pedestrians and bicyclists will be posted in advance of the closure locations and detours.

Background:
MDOT plans to rebuild 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 $25.8 million 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.

Jobs numbers:
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 246 jobs.

Safety benefits:
These road closures will provide the safest work environment for utility crews.

The planned project on M-72 and M-22 will provide a smoother, safer ride, while the drainage improvements will ensure the integrity of the roadway. The upgraded sidewalk ramps will provide accessibility for all sidewalk users and the planned roundabout will improve traffic efficiency and enhance safety by reducing conflict points. Learn more about roundabouts and why MDOT installs them at www.Michigan.gov/Roundabouts.