The long-discussed reconstruction of Grandview Parkway and East Front Street officially begins today (Sunday). Work will be conducted 24/7 this week, with the city sharing details on both vehicle and pedestrian/cyclist detours.

According to city newsletter the Bay Brief, Team Elmer's crews will begin work Sunday evening on East Front Street between Grandview Parkway and Garfield Avenue, and on Garfield Avenue from Front Street north to Peninsula Drive. Crews will also be working on rocker bearing replacements on the Murchie Bridge. Work will include setting up traffic controls and barrier wall, material deliveries, pavement and sidewalk removals, storm sewer and sanitary sewer installation, and water main installation.

From Sunday evening through Friday evening this week, work will be conducted around-the-clock, 24 hours a day. That is so that crews can implement traffic control measures during periods of low traffic volume and conduct infrastructure removals in preparation for pipe installation associated with utility upgrades. The location of this work will be on the two eastbound lanes of Front Street from Grandview Parkway to Peninsula Drive, all lanes of Front Street from Peninsula Drive to Garfield Avenue, the Front Street and Garfield Avenue intersection, and north on Garfield to Peninsula Drive.

For vehicles, westbound traffic will be detoured on Eighth Street and Railroad Avenue. Eastbound traffic will be detoured on Peninsula Drive, Eastern Avenue, and Milliken Drive. Northbound and southbound Garfield Avenue traffic will be detoured on Eastern Avenue, Milliken Drive, Front Street, Fair Street, and Eighth Street. 

As the roadway and sidewalks will be removed during this first phase of construction, and the roadway will not be traversable, northbound and southbound pedestrians on the east side of the closure will be detoured on Anderson Street, Milliken Drive, Front Street, Fair Street, and Eighth Street. Northbound and southbound pedestrians on the west side of the closure will be detoured on East State Street, Railroad Avenue, East Front Street, Park Street, along the TART Trail, and Front Street. MDOT has also notified the city that beginning March 10, the pedestrian underpass at Murchie Bridge will be closed for Segment 1 work through May. Pedestrian detour signs will be posted.

The city "has taken proactive measures to implement tools aimed at safeguarding pedestrian safety," according to the Bay Brief. Those steps include:

> Installed additional in-street crosswalk signage at 13 new locations, supplementing existing locations
> Speed feedback signs have been deployed on select streets that may experience heightened traffic flow during the project
> The city has installed a temporary pedestrian pathway along Eastern Avenue, in addition to the state installing a pedestrian pathway along Garfield Avenue near Bryant Park
> Crosswalk painting is being conducted to freshen crosswalks along the detoured route primarily

Vehicle and pedestrian/cyclist detour maps are available on the city's website HERE.

The reconstruction of Grandview Parkway and East Front Street is one of the largest road projects in modern Traverse City history. The $24.7 million Michigan Department of Transportation project will rebuild 2.2 miles of downtown highway between Garfield Avenue and Division Street from March to November. The city will also make an estimated $3.2 million in underground utility upgrades during construction. The project is split into two segments, with unique detours planned for each segment. Segment 1 will take place from March to July on East Front Street between Garfield Avenue and Grandview Parkway. Segment 2 will take place from July to November on Grandview Parkway from East Front Street to Division Street. There will be a break between segments for the National Cherry Festival. BATA is splitting its free Bayline route into two separate loops serving the east and west sides of Traverse City from March to July, among other route adjustments to help riders navigate construction.

The city reminds residents that in addition to traffic delays, the construction will affect local businesses, particularly those situated along the construction zone. Businesses along East Front Street can be accessed from the alley, Peninsula Drive, or north-south side streets where feasible. "It's important to note that our local businesses will continue to operate, and by demonstrating patience, you can actively support them throughout this period of disruption," according to the Bay Brief.