If you have recently traveled on US-31 through Alanson to Petoskey, you may have noticed tree cutting and work on underground utilities.  This is the start of the US-31 project.  MDOT plans to rebuild US-31 between the north junction of Milton Rd (north of Alanson) through Alanson to just beyond Blumke Rd. near Tri-Lakes Appliance Repair and the Northwood Restaurant.  Starting March 15, 2023 and continuing until November 15, 2023, the US-31 project will necessitate road closures and detours. 

While traffic and local access will be maintained at all times with lane shifts and detours, as you might imagine, there may be slow downs and possibly some delays.  The southbound lane (headed into Petoskey) will be closed and traffic detoured from March 15th through November 15th.    Southbound traffic will be detoured off of US-31 onto Milton Rd. from its northern junction with US-31 down to Powers Rd. and then back onto US-31 near the Citizens Bank and Dairy Queen.  Northbound traffic between River St. (Fairbairn Hardware) and M-68 (traffic signal) will be detoured from March 15th through May 25th.  This traffic detour will follow River St. across the Crooked River bridge to Banwell Rd. then up to M-68 and back to US-31.   

A public meeting for the US-31/Alanson project will be held on Thursday March 9th from 4 - 6 pm in the Littlefield-Alanson Community Bldg. 7631 US-31 North.  The project is scheduled to begin in mid-April, although preliminary work is currently underway.  MDOT staff will be available to explain the project and answer questions.