If you speed through the big construction zone that streches from Grandview Parkway up on to M-22 in Elmwood Township, you’re gonna get popped.

That’s the message from Michigan State Police, who have been aggressively enforcing the reduced 25mph speed limit throughout the construction zone.

State Police spokesman Lt. Ashley Miller couldn’t provide the exact number of stops or citations in recent weeks, but she says troopers (along with other law enforcement agencies) have placed considerable focus on the corridor as construction crews settle in for a long summer of work.

“We’re making citizens aware of what’s going to happen (if they speed), and we’re going to continue this throughout the summer,” she tells The Ticker. “We’re going to be actively patrolling, and we want to make people aware that they need to slow down.”

Speeding is a very common issue in construction zones across the state, Miller says, and it’s no different here. But it’s been distressing to see the frequency and severity of speeding in this particular zone since construction started, she says.

“I spoke with a sergeant this morning, and he had an individual going 50mph in the 25mph zone,” she says. “That’s unacceptable and that’s avoidable.”

Construction is here and heavy for the next several months, Miller says. People who regularly traverse the corridor should get used it and adjust their schedules. 

“Just plan accordingly. If you have to leave a half hour early, let’s do that. If you’re going to be late, just make that phone call and say hey, I’m stuck in this construction zone,” she says. “It’s affecting everyone in the community, so just plan accordingly.”

Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Borkovich says MSP has taken the lead on enforcement in the construction zone and is “writing in the hundreds” of tickets since work began. He hopes the increased police presence leads to people slowing down.

“I see tickets when they come through, and these people aren’t doing five over through there. They’re doing 45, 50,” he tells The Ticker. “People are pretty used to zipping through that corridor, but now there’s workers out there, and now there’s people darting through construction zones. Construction workers are busy doing their jobs and they can’t look up and watch every car, so (slowing down) is important.”

And while there will be an estimated 75 workers out along the zone at peak times during this construction project, Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman James Lake stresses that reduced speeds aren’t just for road workers.

“In 2024, we had 16 fatalities in Michigan work zones and about 6,000 crashes total,” he tells The Ticker. “And of those fatalities, three were workers and the other 13 were drivers and passengers in those work zones. So it’s for the safety of everyone traveling through these zones.”

Lake is grateful for the boosted police presence in the construction zone.

“Increased law enforcement seems to be one of the best deterrents to speeding in work zones and prompts more attentive driving,” he says. “We see anecdotal evidence of that in every work zone where we have increased law enforcement presence. Every time drivers see a police officer within one of our work zones, they (assume) they might next time as well, so they’re just on better behavior.”

Work is expected to continue on the rebuild until November. While locals are slowly adapting to the construction zone, both Miller and Lake say their agencies are bracing for the impact of tourists in the coming weeks.

Click here for more information about the construction project, which is the latest phase of a multi-year effort that began last year with the complete rebuild of Grandview Parkway from Garfield Avenue west to Division.