Grand Traverse County recently received a state transportation economic development grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as part of the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category F.
The county will use the funds to resurface the local South Airport Road, from Garfield Road to LaFranier Road. This is part of a major route that connects US-31 from the west to US-31/M-72 from the east.
The county asked for the grant so that the area could afford to repave half a mile of the heavily used east-west, all-season route.
Additionally, the project will update sidewalk ramps at the intersection of South Airport Road and LaFranier Road. The work will ensure the sidewalks, which will be striped and restored, meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Upgrades to road signs also will be made.
The project's costs total $468,750, of which the grant accounts for $375,000, with the Grand Traverse County Road Commission covering the rest.
A total of eight TEDF grants were given to the state, ranging from $260,000 to $375,000. The total amount of grants available was $2.7 million. The program received 31 Michigan applications.