US-31 Work to Resume September 8

Resurfacing of US-31 from Holiday Road to Brackett Road will begin on September 8, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

The work is the continuation of the $10.4 million project that began in April with the reconstruction of US-31 from Three Mile to Holiday Road. Resurfacing of the next 3.2-mile segment - which will involve grinding off the top layer of the existing pavement and paving a new layer over all lanes - is scheduled to be complete by November 1. The project will also include curb and gutter work, upgrading sidewalk ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and guardrail installation.

"As promised, we suspended work on the US-31 corridor for the busiest tourism months of July and August," says Rick Liptak, manager of MDOT's Traverse City Transportation Service Center (TSC). "While US-31 remains busy during the fall color season, this work should have less impact on motorists than the reconstruction portion of the project did."

The work will require the closure of two - and sometimes three - lanes at a time, but one lane will be open in each direction at all times. Because the work will proceed quickly, the lane closures will shift frequently during the project. A view of the project area is available on the Mi Drive traffic website.