New ‘Gateway of Leelanau County’ Sign Coming to M-22/M-72 Intersection?

Could Leelanau County get a brand-new welcome sign as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s ongoing rebuild of the M-22/M-72 intersection?

Near the end of a special meeting of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners on Thursday morning, District 1 commissioner Rick Robbins said he and County Administrator Jim Dyer were “trying to work with MDOT” to get a “Welcome to the Gateway of Leelanau County” sign placed in the center of the intersection’s in-progress roundabout.

“With the new roundabout at 72 and 22, in the middle of the circle, we’re trying to work with MDOT – and they’re working with us – I’d like to see a sign in the center of that roundabout: ‘Welcome to the Gateway of Leelanau County.’” Robbins told fellow commissioners. “And we’re also working with [the City of Traverse City] a little bit, to see if they want to put [a sign] on our side: ‘Welcome to Traverse City.’”

MDOT and its contractor, Traverse City’s Team Elmer’s, have been working since March on a 2.2-mile, $25.8 million rebuild of M-72 and M-22, from Division Street in Traverse City to Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township. The project, which will include a new roundabout at the intersection of M-72, M-22, and Bay Street (pictured) is scheduled to be complete by November 15, with the road slated to “fully reopen to traffic in late October,” according to MDOT.