The detour around a large stretch of U.S. 31 — between Grawn and Gonder Road in Interlochen — is set to begin tomorrow, if the new traffic lights cooperate.
The goal is to rebuild two bridges in the area in anticipation of a larger roundabout construction project next year.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is installing new traffic lights to regulate increased traffic along the detour route, but said they had trouble getting power to lights on Youker Road.
MDOT spokesperson James Lake said the agency was working to fix that Wednesday.
"We won't start the detour until those temporary traffic signals are up and running," said Lake.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no new traffic lights at the corner of Youker and J. Maddy Parkway.
Lake said "we'll probably have a portable, temporary traffic signal at that intersection for at least a few days."
J. Maddy Parkway will remain open for access to the local businesses south of U-S 31.
It will be possible to cross U.S. 31 at J. Maddy Parkway, but officials are recommending that for local traffic only.
People traveling through U.S. 31 but not stopping at local businesses should "please use the official detour route on Gonder, Riley, J Maddy Parkway, Youker and County Road 633," Lake said.
Becky Pattinson runs the Canvas Company, a shop in Interlochen that helps people store their boats for the winter. She hasn’t been sure what to tell her customers.
"We're not the only boat business that is inside this detour area," she said.
This is just about the time of year when "people are starting to bring boats to us for us to do work for the winter," Pattinson explained. "It's going to be a complete nuisance."
Pattinson said some customers were confused about signage indicating the construction would start Sept. 8.
On Wednesday afternoon, a digital sign on U.S. 31 near the Amazon distribution center showed the message "M37 Bridge Work Begins Sept 8." Lake, of MDOT, confirmed that is not referencing the bridge work on U.S. 31.
MDOT says an average of 15,400 vehicles pass through the corridor that will be closed in Interlochen per day. They will now be routed around Duck Lake and up Gonder and Riley Roads in Interlochen.
The detour is scheduled to end Oct. 18. Crews are rebuilding two bridges in preparation for a big construction project to build a roundabout at Interlochen corner. The roundabout project is slated to start mid-summer 2026.
"We realize that at this point in the summer, toward toward the end of construction season, everyone's getting getting a little tired of the orange barrels," said Lake. "But we really ask everyone to drive safely, put aside distraction and slow down in work zones to keep not only our workers safe, but them safe as well."
