2025 CAPE SEAL PROJECT

BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8TH

The City's contractor will begin the 2025 Cape Seal Project Monday, September 8, 2025 and is anticipated to be substantially completed Friday, September 12, 2025, weather permitting. Streets impacted will be closed for several hours to apply the cape seal. Parking will not be permitted during work activities.

Cape sealing is a two-step road preservation process that involves applying a chip seal followed by micro-surfacing. This method helps extend the life of the roadway for 7 to 10 years by sealing minor cracks, improving surface quality, and providing a renewed street experience without a full reconstruction. As part of a cost-effective maintenance strategy, the City plans to apply cape seal treatment to approximately 4 miles of local streets.

Notices will be distributed to those affected in advance. Access will be maintained to all businesses and residences at all times and appropriate signage will be in place. Work is weather dependent and modifications may be necessary. If possible, please use alternate routes avoiding this area to reduce congestion, delay, and promote worker safety.

2025 Cape Seal Locations

• Third St. (N. Elmwood Ave. to N. Cedar St.)
• Anderson Rd. (N. Garfield Ave. to Milliken Dr.)
• Birchwood Ave. (Western St. to Eastern Ave.)
• Boyd Ave. (Bates St. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• Carver St. (Rose St. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• N. Cedar St. (2nd St. to Randolph St.)
• Clinch St. (Carver St. to Baldwin St.)
• Fern St. (Boyd Ave. to Karla Dr.)
• Grant St. (Centre St. to Grove St.)
• Hannah Ave. (Hastings St. to Steele St. and Terrace Dr. to Belmont Dr.)
• Kinross St. (Fern St. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• Lincoln St. (Rose St. to S. Garfield St.)
• Locust St. (10th to 12th and 13th to 14th) 
• S. Madison St. (Circle Ave. to Circle Ave.)
• S. Maple St. (14th St. to 15th St.)
• N. Maple St. (Randolph St. to Front St.)
• Oak St. (8th St. to 13th St.)
• Randall Ct. (Eastern Ave. to terminus)
• Steele St. (Hannah Ave. to 8th St.)
• Washington St. (Boardman Ave. to Railroad Ave. and Rose St. to Prospect St.)
• Wenonah St. (8th St. to Seneca St. and Iroquois St. to Shawnee St.)
• Grant St. (Kelley St. to Hannah)
• Grant St. (North of RR tracks to 8th St.)
• Western Ave.
• Birchwood (Western to E. Bay Blvd.)

NINTH STREET RECONSTRUCTION

WORK BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8TH

The City’s 2025 Road Reconstruction Projects are moving forward. With work already underway on Eleventh Street, Ninth Street reconstruction, between Union and Cass Streets, is now scheduled to begin on September 8, 2025 and be substantially completed by October 31, 2025.

Project Details

• Full Reconstruction: new curbs and asphalt, watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer upgrades, bioswales, and galvanized service replacements.
• Parking Restrictions: No parking on the east side of Ninth Street between West Union and Lake Avenue. On-street parking will alternate by day: north side on even days, south side on odd days.

Closures and Impacts

During the project, Ninth Street will be closed between Cass Street and Union Street. Cass Street at Ninth Street will also be closed for watermain and storm sewer work and will reopen after paving is completed. Union Street will remain open throughout the project. All Cass Street traffic will be detoured to Union Street. Sidewalks within the construction area will also be closed. Access to driveways and nearby side streets will be maintained as much as possible; however, some temporary restrictions may be necessary during specific construction activities. Proper barricades and signage will be in place to ensure safety and provide clear directions.

MURAL FESTIVAL BEGINS SEPTEMBER 12TH

PUBLIC ART CELEBRATION

The Traverse City Arts Commission will host Traverse City's first Mural Festival next week. The weeklong celebration of public art will transform the North Boardman Lake District into a corridor of color, creativity, and community.

From September 12–17, walls along Eight Street from Lake Avenue to Barlow Street will become canvases for artists from Michigan, across the country, and beyond. More than an arts event, the festival is part of the North Boardman Creative Initiative, a program to reimagine the corridor as a hub of activity and investment.

The Artists

• Nik Burkhart (Maple City)
• Jamie John (Traverse City)
• Dania Grevengoed (Grand Rapids)
• Eddie Chaffer aka Son Visual (Grand Rapids)
• Daisuke Okamoto (Los Angeles, CA)
• Dominic Laporte & Anaïs Labreque aka Drift Mural Co. (Ottawa, Ontario)

The Walls

• Oryana
• The Box Building
• EB2 Vintage
• Bay Family Vision Care
• Silver Spruce Brewing
• The Copy Shop
• The Filling Station

The Events

The public is invited to watch the murals take shape and take part in festival events, including:

• Kickoff Celebration: September 12, 5 pm, Commongrounds
• Family Art Activity: September 14, Traverse Area District Library
• Artist Panel: September 16, 6 pm, The Alluvion at Commongrounds
• Closing Parade: September 17, 4 pm, starting at Oryana on Tenth Street
• Downtown Art Fair: September 13, 10 am to 6 pm, September 14, 10 am to 4 pm

THANK YOU HEROES

TCFD CREW HONORED WITH LIFE-SAVING AWARDS

On August 28, 2025, the Traverse City Fire Department proudly recognized a group of firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs with the prestigious Life-Saving Award for their extraordinary actions during four cardiac arrest incidents.

The Life-Saving Award was reserved for acts that went far beyond the normal course of duty. In the field of emergency medicine, survival from a non-traumatic cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is uncommon. According to the American Heart Association, survival rates are only about 7% for adults and 12% for children. To not only save a life, but to see patients recover fully and return to their families and communities, spoke volumes about the dedication and expertise of the team.

Honorees

• Captains Chris Jackson and Eric Jackson
• Lieutenants Tom Thompson and Jerry Wojtanowski
• Fire Inspector Steichen
• FF/Medics TJ Taylor, Spencer Dennis, Chad Chinlund, Nate McKerchie, Steven Rang, Weston Willoughby, and Aaron Snay
• FF/EMT Michael Goodman

These incidents showcased the very best of the Traverse City Fire Department, where training, skill, and teamwork under pressure led to patients not only surviving cardiac arrest but walking out of the hospital fully recovered, a rare outcome. Built on continual EMS training, crews demonstrated exemplary professionalism and compassion, making the department proud and setting a standard of service that will be remembered for a lifetime.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8TH

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in May 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2025.

Week of September 8th Locations

The week of September 8th, the project will be conducted on the 300, 400, 500, 600, and 800 blocks of S. Union Street, and the 200 block of E. Eighth Street. The work will cause sidewalk and closures and lane closures will result in a traffic shift.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO HOST "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" EVENT

The City’s Human Rights Commission invites the public to a “Know Your Rights” Fair on Thursday, September 12, 2025, from 10 am to 2 pm in the McGuire Room at the Traverse Area District Library.

Community members will have the opportunity to connect face-to-face with local organizations that provide support, information, and advocacy for all citizens. This collaborative event will bring together nonprofits, advocacy groups, and community resources in an accessible table format.

Come learn about your rights, discover available services, and connect with organizations such as the Disability Network Northern Michigan, Equality Michigan, Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan, Munson Behavioral Health, and Northern MI E3, who are dedicated to ensuring dignity and respect for everyone in our community. This event is presented in partnership between the Traverse City Human Rights Commission and the Traverse Area District Library.

MAKE YOUR HOME

GRANT FUNDING FOR HOUSING COSTS

Traverse Connect, in partnership with Networks Northwest, Alliance for Economic Success, and their regional chamber partners, has launched the Make Your Home in Northwest Michigan grant application.



This new program provides eligible individuals with direct grant funding to support housing costs as they put down roots in our region. The goal is simple: to attract and retain professionals by addressing housing affordability, offering relocation support, and strengthening the economic and community vitality of Northwest Michigan.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be seeking housing in Northwest Michigan with a new lease or mortgage beginning no earlier than April 1, 2025.
• Be employed by a company located or headquartered in one of the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, or Wexford.
• Commit to living in the region for at least 12 months after receiving funding.

Key Dates

• Applications open: August 25, 2025
• Deadline: May 26, 2026, or until all ten awards have been granted

The program is funded through the Make MI Home Fund, a statewide talent attraction and retention initiative supported by the Michigan Growth Office. By easing housing transitions, this effort helps new residents thrive personally and professionally while contributing to the long-term success of our communities.

APWA PROJECT OF THE YEAR

2025 NATIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Congratulations are once again in order for the Traverse City Department of Municipal Utilities and Director Art Krueger, P.E., who received the 2025 National Project of the Year Award! Represented by City Engineer Anne Pagano, the City accepted the award last week in Chicago.

The project addressed a high-risk section of sewer along the Boardman/Ottaway River, relocating it away from an unstable 1930s-era retaining wall. Completed in 2023, the effort protects water quality, public health, and nearly half of the City’s wastewater flow—more than 2 million gallons daily.

The two-phase, $2.2 million project was funded through Michigan’s State Revolving Fund program. Special thanks to partners Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc., Elmer’s Crane and Dozer, Inc., the Downtown Development Authority, and local property owners for their collaboration.