The roundabout at US-31, J. Maddy Parkway and South Long Lake Road is finished. On August 31, Interlochen Center for the Arts updated its construction notice to read, "All roundabout approaches are now open." MDOT expects the rest of the 7.8-mile, $32.5 million rebuild to wrap up Sunday, November 15. That leaves about six and a half weeks of construction.
The work still underway sits on one side of the roundabout, and the detour covers one direction of travel. If you're coming from the Traverse City side to a recital, a bookstore or a loaf of bread, your fall trips mostly run on finished road. Most of the remaining hassle falls on northbound traffic coming from Benzie County.
Where the Work Zone Actually Is Now
The final segment started Monday, July 20. MDOT describes it as rebuilding US-31 "from west of the South Long Lake Road/J. Maddy Parkway roundabout to Reynolds Road" in Inland Township. The stretch east of the roundabout toward Sullivan Road was rebuilt earlier, in spring and early summer. MDOT's April plan rebuilt the north side from April to June and the south side from June to July, with the roundabout built along the way.
Within the active segment, southbound US-31 traffic stays on the highway. Northbound traffic follows a detour on Reynolds Road, Cinder Road, Diamond Park Road, Gonder Road, Riley Road and J. Maddy Parkway. MDOT's September 2 Labor Day notice still listed US-31 in Grand Traverse County with "northbound lanes detoured near Interlochen," so nothing had changed as of early September.
On this stretch, US-31's compass labels can be confusing. The local business group behind VisitInterlochen.com splits its maps into "East/North Bound US31 Coming from Benzie County" and "West/South Bound US31 Coming from Traverse City." Here's how that lines up with MDOT's plan:
| Your trip | Direction on US-31 | What MDOT's plan says |
|---|---|---|
| From Traverse City toward Interlochen | Southbound | Kept on US-31; roundabout open |
| From Benzie County toward Interlochen | Northbound | Detoured via Reynolds, Cinder, Diamond Park, Gonder, Riley and J. Maddy Parkway |
| Through the work zone, west of the roundabout | Southbound | Open, with delays expected in the work zone |
The VisitInterlochen Stage 3 map labels the roundabout "Completed." On the Benzie side it reads "Detour in effect follow signs on Gondor Rd. Local Traffic can continue strait." Neither MDOT nor Interlochen lists every allowed turn at the roundabout, and Interlochen's own update warns that "certain routes remain under construction and temporary detours may still be in place." Before an evening drive, check the MDOT project page and the maps at VisitInterlochen.com. They're the most current sources.
Why the Roundabout Mattered to the People at the Corner
Randy Kaastra owns Blue Vase Books, right at the intersection. In April, when the roundabout was still a dirt outline, he told UpNorthLive about the old signal:
"You can see people approaching the intersection and the light turns yellow and sometimes red and you can just see in the vehicles coming that they have no intention of stopping and it's gotten worse and worse over the years. I'm a big fan of the roundabout. I think it's going to be better for everyone."
About a mile east, Gary Jurkovich of TCH Gear told the station his store had seen six or seven major car accidents out front in the two and a half years it had been open. Most were rear-end collisions involving drivers turning. He expected the new center turn lane to help. The center left-turn lane, widened paved shoulders and rumble strips are the safety changes MDOT built into the whole corridor.
This is the second construction season for those businesses. Speaking in April, Jurkovich said of the previous year, "we were the dead end." He also asked the drivers using his lot as an unofficial detour to "go slow and be kind." In the stretch east of the roundabout, the reason for cutting through has since been paved over.
The Academy Season Runs Alongside the Last Weeks of Work
Interlochen's fall calendar starts just as the final weeks of construction begin, and much of it is free. These events are listed as free, with no tickets required:
- Thursday, October 1, 7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital with Jason Vieaux on guitar and Timothy McCallister on saxophone, Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall. Also that night, a student Music Recital in Music Center 1010.
- Saturday, October 3, 3 p.m. Thesis Interactive Exhibition with Elaine Gurian and James Volkert, Dow Center for Visual Arts Gordon Brunner Family Gallery. That evening at 7:30, the Lanta Horn Duo plays Dendrinos Chapel.
- Saturday, October 10, 4:30 p.m. Thesis Interactive Exhibition Family Reception, same gallery.
- Wednesdays, October 14 and November 4, 7:30 p.m. Interdisciplinary Arts: Studio 2 Open Mic, Stone 2 Lab.
- Wednesday, October 28, and Thursday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. Music Recitals, Music Center 1010.
- Sunday, November 8, 4 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Recital, Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall.
- Wednesday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. Interlochen Arts Academy Piano Department Recital, Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall.
The ticketed shows land on the same weeks. Fall Dance plays Corson Auditorium on October 2 and 3, with tickets at $17 for adults and $14 for children through college students. Collage, the annual show that brings together students from all seven arts disciplines, is October 9 at Corson. Tickets are $35 for adults and $19 for children through college students. The full schedule is on Interlochen's concerts and events page. The free list above covers the events we could confirm, so the calendar may include more.
Off campus, the Interlochen Public Library's free Hallo-Read Halloween party runs Saturday, October 31, from 2 to 4 p.m., with stories, crafts, treats and games.
For a southbound trip from the Traverse City side, MDOT's plan routes every one of these evenings over rebuilt road and through the finished roundabout. The northbound detour mainly affects people coming from the Benzie side, and Interlochen asks all visitors to "allow a little extra time when traveling to campus."
Stops Along the Way
Blue Vase Books is at 2048 M-137. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children's storytime is every Friday at 10:30 a.m., and each child who comes gets a free book. That puts it within an easy stop of the Saturday matinees and Sunday recitals.
TCH Gear is at 1899 Rogers Road. This summer it took in a tenant from Lake Ann. The Traverse City Ticker reported on July 9 that Rachel Beckwith was moving The Bread Lady into TCH Gear as a bakery with breads, treats and a full-service coffee counter. The 2026 Fall Color Experiences Booklet lists The Bread Lady as a café and bakery inside TCH Gear selling handmade baked goods and sourdough. The bakery's own online shop still says Lake Ann and doesn't list hours for the new location, so check before you plan a coffee stop around a recital.
The Weekend MDOT Expects to Finish
MDOT's April release estimated Friday, November 13 as the end date. The July release moved it to Sunday, November 15. No August or September update says the work is ahead of schedule or behind it, and the project page still lists the final segment as July through November.
That November weekend is also when Interlochen's Musical Theatre Company performs The Prom, November 13 through 15. The closing performance is Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m. in Corson Auditorium, and adult tickets are $38. If MDOT's estimate holds, people coming from the Benzie side to Saturday's show will still be on the detour, and Sunday's matinee falls on the last day of the schedule.
For more on the community the corridor serves, see our Interlochen neighborhood page and our earlier resident's read on the 2026 summer season.
If you own a home near the corridor and want to know how a safer, finished US-31 might show up in your home's value next year, Craig Real Estate is glad to talk it through with you, recital schedule and all. Schedule your free consultation.
