For years, drivers, residents, cyclists, and visitors traveling through Interlochen experienced the challenges of aging pavement, congestion, and safety concerns along a heavily traveled section of US-31. Today, construction is officially underway on the long-planned US-31 reconstruction project between Sullivan Road and Reynolds Road in Benzie and Grand Traverse Counties, improving safety, accessibility, and travel throughout the corridor.
Led by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the 7.8-mile project represents a major investment in long-term safety, accessibility, and mobility for the communities and travelers who rely on the corridor every day.
US-31 corridor construction.
The project includes roadway reconstruction, widened paved shoulders with rumble strips, center left-turn lanes, ADA-compliant pedestrian improvements, and the future construction of a new two-lane roundabout at S. Long Lake Road and J. Maddy Parkway.
Clark Dietz is proud to serve as the lead engineering firm for the project, providing roadway design, traffic and safety analysis, maintenance of traffic (MOT) coordination, utility coordination, public engagement support, and overall project management services.
Construction Underway
Construction activities are underway along the US-31 corridor, including the full roadway reconstruction and construction of the new two-lane roundabout at South Long Lake Road and J. Maddy Parkway.
US-31 roundabout intersection.
The project follows extensive 2025 preparation work, including improvements to designated detour routes and excavation of poor soils identified during design development and geotechnical investigation. Those early efforts helped position the project for safer, more efficient construction during the full rebuild now taking place in 2026.
Throughout the design process, the project team worked closely with MDOT, local agencies, emergency services, utility providers, businesses, and residents to proactively address concerns related to traffic flow, emergency access, property impacts, and long-term safety improvements.
Community Collaboration Helped Shape the Project
Public engagement became a defining part of the project. What began as a routine corridor improvement effort quickly evolved into one of the most highly attended and closely followed transportation projects in the region.
US-31 second public meeting.
Through public meetings, one-on-one coordination, GIS Story Maps, FAQs, project graphics, and direct outreach, the team worked to ensure the community understood both the need for the project and the long-term safety benefits of the proposed improvements.
That collaboration continued throughout design and coordination efforts, especially as utility conflicts, right-of-way considerations, detour planning, and geotechnical challenges required additional flexibility and communication.
A Collaborative Effort
The project reflects the strength of the partnership between MDOT, Clark Dietz, and stakeholders across the region.
Project Manager (PM), Lucas Porath, PE, MDOT Cost & Scheduling Engineer, noted:
“Clark Dietz staffed the job with the right people and needed little direction. The PM kept the team aligned, and subject-matter leads (traffic, drainage, geometrics) handled issues quickly.”
Porath also shared:
“Clark Dietz worked as true partners with MDOT. Communication was regular and candid, with early issue spotting, clear options, and documented actions. They were responsive and transparent, resolving items quickly.”
As construction continues, the project team remains focused on maintaining communication with the community while delivering improvements that will enhance safety and mobility for years to come.
➡️ For project updates and additional information:
US-31 Rebuilding – A Safer, Connected Future for Benzie and Grand Traverse Counties
