TCLP to bury lines at the M-72/22 roundabout

Aug. 16 — TRAVERSE CITY — Work to bury the city’s utility lines, along with planned construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of M-22 and M-72, is scheduled to begin later this month.

The Traverse City Light & Power Board this week approved a $265,705 proposal with the Michigan Department of Transportation to relocate the city’s electric utility lines underground in preparation for the planned $24.6 million reconstruction project, which involves a 2.2 mile stretch of M-72 and M-22. corridor along West Grand Traverse Bay at the northwest end of the city, entering Leelanau County. The project, scheduled to begin in April, includes construction of a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of M-22 and M-72.

“TCLP has participated in several discussions with MDOT staff and we have determined that the best solution to avoid conflicts with the new roundabout is to bury the lines at the intersection,” TCLP Director of Engineering Tony Chartrand said in a memo to the council of utilities. “By removing overhead lines and improving the visual appeal of the area, we contribute to a more beautiful and pleasant environment for our residents and visitors.”

MDOT also plans to move lighting along the road as part of the project, including adding additional lights to the new roundabout under its own contractor, Chartrand said.

TCLP Executive Director Brandie Ekren said there are both pros and cons to burying utility lines, though the pros generally outweigh the cons. Burying the power lines will remove TCLP’s utility poles from the intersection, which improves driver safety. It also improves system reliability, although power outages can take longer to restore when they involve underground power lines.

“The probability of an outage goes down when you’re underground,” Ekren said. “It will definitely be an improvement.”

Underground work is scheduled to begin later this month and be completed by the end of November, officials said, and MDOT will reimburse TCLP for the cost of burying the utility lines. Ekren said the work could involve some temporary disruptions to TCLP customers, although the utility will notify customers in advance of any disruptions and try to do the work during off-peak hours.

“We’re trying to minimize the impact on our customers,” she said.

MDOT officials did not commit to the extent of other underground work associated with the M-72/22 corridor project, which is scheduled to run through October 2025. MDOT spokesman James Lake said that while a much of the design work on the project is complete, the state is still working with utility and telecommunications companies with utility lines in that area to finalize their plans for the construction area. While Lake didn’t speak specifically to the M-72/22 intersection, he said intersections are generally safer for drivers when utility lines are buried in the ground.

“Right-of-way poles are a fixed object that has the potential to be in an accident,” Lake said.

MDOT Senior Project Engineer Lucas Porath said Thursday that bids for the corridor project are due by Oct. 4, and the state plans to finalize a construction contract for the work by the end of November.

In other TCLP business this week, the board unanimously approved a $2,523,206 contract with Asplundh Tree Experts to manage vegetation and trees around the utility’s distribution, transmission and fiber lines and systems.

The contract extends for five years, and Asplundh submitted the low bid from three companies that responded to TCLP’s RFP.