The Grand Traverse County Road Commission (GTCRC) hopes to include funding in its 2026 budget to complete intersection studies for Long Lake/Strait and Three Mile/Potter roads and to possibly install a traffic signal and new turn lanes at Cedar Run/Gray roads. The GTCRC board discussed the safety of all three intersections at their most recent meeting, where they also approved an $84,500 contract for design services for Franke Road ahead of planned construction work next year.

Intersection Safety
Signal modernization work in front of Traverse City West Senior High – underway this week through early December – could provide GTCRC with enough leftover equipment to install a new signal at another local intersection. GTCRC Manager Dan Watkins told road commissioners such a signal could be installed for about $35,000 – a new signal can run $500,000 by comparison, he said – at the Cedar Run/Gray intersection (pictured). Additional improvements like left turn lanes would be needed to make that signalized intersection operate effectively, Watkins added, which could bring the price tag to about $200,000.

Watkins noted the temporary light in place at Gray now doesn’t detect vehicles, but the new signal would. A recent state-funded safety audit flagged numerous corridor issues with Cedar Run Road, which has experienced 35 crashes from 2018 to 2022 and received an “F” grade for the Gray and Harris intersections. Road commissioners discussed the possibility of a second light at Harris, but Chair Haider Kazim called the temporary light at Harris now an “absolute nightmare.” The hill near Harris could also pose a winter risk if vehicles tried to stop on ice. Watkins said a future roundabout would likely be better for Harris, adding that another long-range option could be “punching Zimmerman all the way through” to Harris.

Road commissioners discussed the North Long Lake Road/Strait Road/East Long Lake Road intersection area as another possibility for the repurposed signal equipment. However, the risk in improving the Long Lake corridor is that GTCRC has long pursued a “peanut” or “dog bone” roundabout there – an elongated roundabout that is really two roundabouts separated by a narrow boulevard. The roundabouts would be situated at the intersections of Strait and East Long Lake roads. GTCRC has tried unsuccessfully multiple years running to get grant funding for that project. Installing a signal could drop GTCRC’s application score down even further since some improvements, even if not the preferred long-term solution, would reduce the safety need.

Commissioners weighed continuing to pursue grant funding for the preferred design or proceeding with improvements themselves – whether a traffic signal or a simplified roundabout, possibly in partnership with Long Lake Township. “We may just have to pick up the tab and make that happen,” said Road Commissioner Jason Gillman. The board also discussed the risk of a light on Long Lake slowing down commuter traffic and making issues even worse. “It has to be done right, because we can't create additional traffic backups,” said Kazim.

Safety issues also came up regarding the Three Mile/Potter intersection after a resident spoke during public comment about numerous collisions at the site, include a serious crash involving multiple vehicles earlier this month. The intersection previously hasn’t met traffic warrants to merit a new signal or four-way stop. However, staff said the intersection could be looked at again. Road Commissioner Alan Leman supported that route, since changing the intersection without those warrants could create additional hazards. “Otherwise, we're putting up impediments to traffic flow – which makes people more angry, more likely to speed, more likely to tailgate,” he said.

Road commissioners asked staff to include funds in GTCRC’s 2026 budget for intersection studies next spring at Three Mile/Potter and Long Lake/Strait. Watkins also said staff would put together a “solid” number for the budget for improving the Cedar Run/Gray intersection, which could allow that project to proceed next year with board approval.

Franke Road
Road commissioners approved an $84,500 contract with OHM Advisors for professional design services for Franke Road – with a possible $5,750 extra for a traffic study. The corridor, frequently criticized as one of the most treacherous locally, is set to be rehabilitated next year for its entire stretch from US-31 to Silver Lake Road. The request-for-proposals (RFP) describes a crush-and-shape project that ideally includes traffic-calming measures, stormwater controls, and accommodations for new sidewalk planned to be installed by Garfield Township on the road’s west side.

GTCRC Interim Engineering Department Manager Chris Elliott said the traffic study and calming measures are necessary because the TCAPS Montessori school has “created a problem for us in regards to the traffic patterns” on Franke Road. Several road commissioners expressed frustration with TCAPS, criticizing the choice to locate the elementary school on Franke and to maintain an informal arrangement with Meijer in which parents park in the store lot for drop-offs/pick-ups and students cross the road to the school. “Franke Road is a very short amount of road that has a very large, high volume of vehicles, so I've never liked the idea of the kids being dropped off at the Meijer and walking across the street,” said Road Commissioner Alisa Korn. She added, however, that it was important for GTCRC to collaborate with partners like the township and TCAPS as much as possible, ensuring Franke has an “integrative design” that functions well for all users.

Some proposed design elements – like a potential crosswalk across Franke to the school – remain uncertain in terms of funding and implementation. TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner – noting that he and many district board members weren’t part of the original decision to locate the school on Franke – said the location nonetheless offers “a lot of benefits,” including its proximity to TC West Middle School. “But traffic definitely is a component there,” he acknowledges. A crosswalk in GTCRC’s right-of-way would normally fall under GTCRC’s jurisdiction, not the district’s, he says – but echoes Korn’s remarks about desired collaboration.

“I’m surprised to hear about any critical conversations, because our face-to-face conversations have been very positive,” he says. Another joint meeting is planned for November 13 to discuss Franke Road, VanWagoner notes. “We’re happy to talk about ideas and solutions, and I hope for the betterment of all our children that we could come up with a concept that benefits that area,” he says.