TRAVERSE CITY -- Motorists can start planning for alternate routes because the Grand Traverse County Road Commission plans to fix 27.5 miles of heavily traveled local roads this summer.
The road commission went out for bids today on $4 million worth of work. Road commission Manager Mary Gillis said construction could begin by mid-July, starting with a stretch of South Airport Road at Logan's Landing.
The road commission prioritized failing, high-volume roads for work this summer.
South Airport is at the top because it carries the most traffic, Gillis said.
It's followed by Silver Lake Road, Hammond Road and Barlow Streets. North Long Lake Road falls to fifth on the list, based on traffic volume, though many people consider it one of the county's worst roads after pavement began falling apart last winter.
"If we don't have enough in the budget, we'll cut back projects but hopefully we'll get a great price and we can add work," Gillis said.
Hobbs Highway and parts of Elk Lake Road are at the bottom of the list of 20 projects on 11 roads.
Funding for the work comes from a $4 million bond to be paid back over five years.
The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners launched the project by agreeing to cover half the cost of bond payments.
The board also consented to cover for now some of the road commission's bond repayment.
Road commission officials said they needed to spread out that agency's share of payments over seven years.
County officials originally believed they would have to wait months for the bonds to be sold before they could start construction. Instead, their bond attorneys structured the sale to allow work to start almost immediately.
Gillis is optimistic the commission will be able to get most of the road projects done this summer.
"It will depend on how many contractors get awarded the bids and their scheduling, but it's definitely a possibility," Gillis said.
Bids are due back by June 23.
Road projects
Projects planned by the Grand Traverse County Road Commission this summer, in order of priority:
-- South Airport Road, Garfield Township, 0.52 miles between Cass Road and Park Road;
-- Silver Lake and West Silver Lake roads, Garfield and Blair townships, 7.18 miles from Division Street to U.S. 31 in Grawn;
-- Hammond Road, East Bay Township, 0.76 miles between Four Mile and High Lake roads;
-- Barlow Street, Garfield Township, 0.63 miles between Boon Street and South Airport Road;
-- North Long Lake Road, Long Lake and Garfield townships, 6.35 miles between Cedar Run Road and Church Road;
-- West Long Lake Road, Long Lake Township, 1 mile between Thiel Road and North Long Lake Road;
-- West Long Lake Road, Long Lake Township, 1.33 miles from Lakewood Road north to the preserve;
-- Peninsula Drive, Peninsula Township, 2.5 miles between Gray Road and Peninsula Hills Road;
-- Cass Road, Garfield Township, 1.17 miles between the Boardman River bridge and Hartman Road;
-- East Long Lake Road, Long Lake Township, 1.1 miles from Secor Road to Forest Lodge Road;
-- Elk Lake Road, Whitewater Township, 3.61 miles from Crisp Road south of M-72 north to Park Road;
-- South Hobbs Highway, East Bay Township, 1.37 miles east of Garfield Road.
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