The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will shift traffic this week onto the newly rebuilt lanes of M-72/M-22 in Traverse City and Elmwood Township, marking a key milestone in the $25.8 million project.

Crews are expected to finish paving and applying pavement markings to the new lanes on the bay side of the highway as early as Wednesday, according to an MDOT release. Once complete, traffic that has been on the inland side of the highway will shift to the new pavement and the eastern portion of the new roundabout so work can begin rebuilding the southbound lanes north of the M-72/M-22 intersection. Crews will be working at night following the traffic shift to complete demolition work.

The newly built trail on the bay side will also be open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. From late June to late October, the TART trail on the west side of M-72/M-22 will be closed from Elmwood Avenue to the Leelanau Trail north of the M-72/M-22 intersection while it is rebuilt. During this time, pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed to the traffic signal at Division Street and the temporary high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) signal north of the M-72/M-22 intersection to cross the highway. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained through construction.

Work on the project to rebuild 2.2 miles of M-72 (Grandview Parkway) from Division Street in Traverse City and M-22 (Bay Shore Drive) to Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township is scheduled to be completed by November 15, reopening to traffic in late October, according to MDOT.