City of Traverse City’s Sewer Relocation Project Earns National Recognition
American Public Works Association
The City of Traverse City’s Department of Municipal Utilities has won national recognition from the American Public Works Association (APWA), receiving the prestigious 2025 National Project of the Year Award in the Environment ($1 Million to $5 Million) category. The project will be formally honored at the APWA’s National Awards Ceremony this August in Chicago.
This follows earlier top honors from the Michigan Chapter of APWA, which named the Sanitary Sewer Relocation project its 2025 Project of the Year in the same category.
This award highlights the City's proactive efforts to protect the Boardman/Ottaway River and Grand Traverse Bay, while ensuring long-term infrastructure reliability. The project originated from the Boardman River Wall Stabilization Study, which identified a critical risk: the existing 24-inch sanitary sewer running along the river wall between Union and Cass Streets was vulnerable to failure. It also addressed a 1930s-era retaining wall that had become unstable due to soil erosion and structural degradation. The project involved relocating the sewer line where feasible and stabilizing the wall to protect public health and prevent environmental harm. Completed in 2023, the relocation of the sewer southward into the alley significantly reduced environmental risk and safeguarded over 2 million gallons per day, nearly half of the City’s wastewater flow.
"From a statewide award to now national recognition, this honor is a testament to the foresight, and dedication of our municipal team. The Sanitary Sewer Relocation project showcases what’s possible when smart planning, technical expertise, and environmental stewardship come together. I’m deeply proud of our staff and partners—this project not only protects our waterways but strengthens our infrastructure for the future," stated Liz Vogel, City Manager.
The project was led by the City’s Department of Municipal Utilities Director Art Krueger, PE, and implemented in collaboration with Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc., Elmer’s Crane and Dozer, Inc., the Traverser City’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and private property and business owners. It was completed through a two-phase approach and is designed to protect public health, safeguard water quality, and enhance the long-term reliability of the City’s infrastructure.
Art Krueger, DMU Director said, “This project was critical—not just because of the infrastructure we were upgrading, but because of its location along a vital waterway. Being recognized by the APWA at both the state and national levels is an incredible honor that reflects the thoughtful planning and coordination behind every phase of this effort. It was a complex challenge requiring cross-disciplinary collaboration, and I’m proud of the innovation, professionalism, and dedication our team and partners brought to the table. Most importantly, this project ensures stronger protection for our community’s waterways.”
The award will also be formally presented at the APWA Michigan Chapter’s Annual Conference Awards Banquet on May 22, 2025, at the Grand Traverse Resort.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project totaled nearly $2,200,000 and were funded with bonds through the Michigan State Revolving Fund (SRF) program with low interest loan rates. In 2022, the City adopted two five-year Project Plans for drinking water and clean water (wastewater), which included over $48 million in infrastructure investments.