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Project List

Gravel Road Improvement Projects

A program has been established to improve our county's gravel roads.  The project adds 3" of gravel to the existing roadbed and then the road is shaped and compacted.  The township pays for the material and the GTCRC provides the labor and equipment.

Mayfield Township was the first to partner with the GTCRC to improve one mile of Bancroft Road, which has been completed.  One mile of Elliott Road and two miles of Rahe Road were graveled in late August.

Paradise Township is also participating by improving about a 3/4 mile section of Kingsley Road.

Construction Projects

Hammond Road, LaFranier Road to Keystone Road

The project involves the westerly extension of Hammond Road with improvements northerly on Keystone Road.  The railroad crossings will be grade separated.  Rieth-Riley was awarded the bid for this project on May 6, 2009 in the amount of $6,446,525.18.  

This project was opened to traffic on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 with a ribbon cutting ceremony held at 9:30 a.m.  There are still some contract items to be completed. 

Cedar Run Road, from Harris Road to Gray Road

This project was completed in early July 2010 and was funded by Federal and State funds.

Bates Road

This project was completed the end of May and looks great. Thanks to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for funding this project.

Special Assessment District (SAD)

Wintergreen Avenue was awarded to ATP/Precision Paving on August 10, 2010 and is scheduled to be paved beginning on September 7, 2010.  The contractor has two weeks in which to complete the project.

Harbor Reach has been resurfaced.

These projects are funded through and by the actions of landowners who want to improve their road.

Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS)

The two culverts under Mayfield Road (Union Township) at the crossing of Twenty-Two Creek will be replaced with grant funds from the Grand Traverse Band.  These culverts will be replaced with one larger culvert, currently scheduled to begin in September 2010. 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus) Projects

Karlin Road, M-137 to Youker Road

Rieth-Riley started and ended this project during June 2010 at a cost of nearly $403,000. The road is significantly improved and looks great!  Enjoy the smooth ride as a results of your Stimulus Dollars being used right here in our county!

Symbol Marking

Rather than use painted-on symbols, crews are using heat-fused symbols to mark areas in school zones, railroad crossings, stop bars.  In 2008 several test symbols were installed by our crews to determine the durability of these heat-fused symbols.  Symbols have been installed along South Airport Road.  We will continue to install these improved symbol markings during the summer of 2010. 

Pavement Marking

Painted-on centerlines, edge or foglines, are typically replaced annually due to the wear and tear of winter plows keeping the road surface cleared.  In 2010 we were able to place our lines with a much more durable and costly material in the urban areas.  PK Contracting performed the work and the quality of the product is touted as lasting nearly five years! See our facebook page for video of that process.

Crews from Michigan Pavment Markings are currently working on placing centerline (yellow lane markings) and edgeline (white lane markings) in the rural area of our road system. 

This will improve the safety of our roads and reduces the annual budget impact of needing to paint the same lines. 

The Grand Traverse Band has offered to participate with their Stimulus Funds on their Tribal Road System, which includes some of our county roads.  May bids were approved and look for the following projects to start this summer. 

1) East Silver Lake Road - Rehabilitation (crushing and shaping) and shoulder paving from Zimmerman to Rennie School Road is in progress.  Estimated project cost is $811,000. Rieth Riley was awarded this project.

This project was completed in August 2010.

2) Keystone Road from north of Birmley Road (will tie in with the Hammond-Keystone improvements) to River Road received a pavement overlay and was completed by Elmer's. The Engineer’s Estimates is $241,500.

This work was completed in July 2010.

3) Secor Road, West Silver Lake Road to E. Long Lake, was crushed-and-shaped at an estimated cost of $234,700 by Elmer's Crane and Dozer.

This project was completed in August 2010.

Safety Projects

Signal Improvements

Silver Lake Road at Zimmerman Road

This safety project added left-turn lanes to each leg of the intersection and is now complete as of September 7, 2010.  Garfield Township partnered financially on this project to add "mast arms" to hold up the traffic signals and road signs.

South Long Lake Road

This $713,000 project is in progress.  It features shoulder widening and paving, overlay, sign upgrades and clear zone tree removals. It starts north of Mud Lake Road in Green Lake Township and continues north to the curve at the intersection of Secor Road in Long Lake Township. This project meets Grand Vision criteria for long-term transportation improvements.

We have received up to $400,000 in Federal Safety monies for this project.  TC-TALUS has given $3,000.  Long Lake and Green Lake Townships are providing $50,000 and $8,200 respectively.  TART has donated $2,500 with a match challenge given to Cherry Capital Cycling Club.  Long Lake Trails Association recently donated $7,000.  The balance of the $313,000 match is being provided by the Grand Traverse County Road Commission. Our application for a Rotary Charities grant for $100,000 was not selected for funding. 

Sign Upgrades

Grant monies for safety improvements will be used to upgrade signs on Five Mile Road, Supply Road and Cass Road.  This work is anticipated to be completed in late summer/early fall 2010.

Three Mile Road, South Airport Road to Hammond Road

A public hearing was held in January 2008 to present the selected alternative to the public and receive any final comments relative to design.  Project design for a five-lane is complete. This project will not be constructed until a source of funding is established and right-of-way is acquired.

Holiday Road, east of Five Mile Road

Both East Bay and Acme Township residents failed to pass a special assessment district to improve Holiday Road.

Four Mile Road/Hammond Road - signal improvements

"PAUSED PROJECT"

Hartman-Hammond Connection - We still receive many inquiries regarding this project.  On August 4, 2004 the Board of Road Commissioners of Grand Traverse County passed a motion to pause the project.  The pause was intended to allow related issues to be resolved before the project may resume.

One concept developed at that meeting was the formation of a study group with representatives from various county agencies, environmental groups and the public.  This was the birth of the "Land Use and Transportation Study (LUTS) group.  Most recently, this group, under the oversight of TC-TALUS, retained the firm of Mead-Hunt to begin a transportation-land use visioning study called, "The Grand Vision."

THE GRAND VISION

The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce's Transportation Committee has been designated as the convening agency to oversee the implementation.  To keep current on the latest information, visit www.thegrandvision.org