Downed Power Line Closes Barnes Road Section in Traverse City

A downed power line closed Barnes Road between North Long Lake Road and Silver Lake Road in Traverse City on Sunday, blocking a stretch of roadway and sending drivers searching for alternate routes while utility crews worked to clear the hazard.

The Grand Traverse County Road Commission shut the corridor after the line came down, though no reopening timeline had been provided. Anyone traveling between the two roads should bypass the affected section entirely until crews restore safe conditions.

Traverse City Light & Power, the community-owned municipal utility that serves Traverse City and surrounding portions of East Bay, Elmwood, Garfield and Peninsula townships, handles downed line emergencies around the clock. Customers with outage concerns or related hazards can reach TCLP at 231-922-4940 at any hour. A live outage map is also available through TCLP's website for customers tracking restoration status in real time.

Safety officials urge anyone who encounters the line to stay at least 25 feet away in every direction, including from the ground near it. Electricity can travel through the surface around a downed wire. Do not attempt to move the line, drive over it, or assume it is de-energized because it is not sparking. Call 911 immediately and keep others away until a crew arrives.

No injuries were reported as of Sunday, and the cause of the line coming down had not been disclosed. Drivers with road condition questions can contact the Grand Traverse County Road Commission at 231-922-4848, which operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. After-hours road emergencies within city limits can be reported to the City of Traverse City at 231-922-4901.