Road commission forms panel to fix flood-prone South Airport Road
South Airport Road flooded again in April, briefly closed and nearly failed near Logan’s Landing, pushing officials toward a long-term fix after years of disruption.
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission is forming a steering committee to confront a problem that has repeatedly cut off South Airport Road near Logan’s Landing: flooding severe enough to threaten the crossing itself.
The road flooded in April 2026 and was closed temporarily while state bridge inspectors and Grand Traverse County Road Commission engineers reviewed the structure. Officials later reopened the road after that inspection, but the episode underscored how close the corridor came to a more serious failure in one of Traverse City’s busiest east-west routes.
Dan Watkins, the road commission manager, said trees and debris had become lodged in a culvert, making the flooding worse. Watkins also said one possible long-term fix would be to raise and widen the crossing’s eastern approach so it can better handle higher Boardman River flows. That idea now goes before a panel meant to sort out a corridor that has flooded for years.
South Airport Road matters well beyond the immediate crossing. It serves as a major east-west traffic corridor for Traverse City and provides access to Logan’s Landing and other commercial areas. When the road closes or narrows, commuters lose a key connection across town and nearby businesses are left dealing with interrupted traffic and access.
The committee comes as Grand Traverse County is still dealing with broader flood recovery. County officials declared a local state of emergency in April because of flooding, and by May 22, damage estimates had reached at least $21.2 million countywide. Other roads across the county also suffered closures and damage, adding pressure on officials to move quickly on the most vulnerable spots.
Residents and other stakeholders have already pushed for faster action at packed public meetings, turning South Airport Road into more than a drainage problem. For people who drive the corridor every day, and for businesses along the Logan’s Landing area, the question is whether the new panel produces a lasting reconstruction plan or simply adds another layer of study to a road that has flooded too many times already.
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