A reconstruction project on South Airport Road will kick off Monday – leading to anticipated significant delays in the corridor over the next few months.

The Grand Traverse County Road Commission is reconstructing South Airport from Veterans Drive to just past the U.S. 31 intersection. The project is expected to cost up to $3.5 million and will address deteriorating road conditions in the corridor. While officials have said the repair work is badly needed and the new pavement is expected to last at least two decades once finished, the project will likely cause headaches for drivers in a busy stretch surrounding the Grand Traverse Mall, Buffalo Wild Wings, and the Grand Traverse Crossing shopping center.

The first phase of the project, expected to last through May, will reduce traffic to just two lanes on South Airport Road – one moving in either direction. A later, second stage will likely see the corridor expand to three lanes of traffic. Crews are aiming to complete construction by July, though that timeline could be adjusted for weather or other delays.