Massive Blue Spruce Installed Downtown, Cass Street Closed Through December
A 45 foot, roughly 3,800 pound blue spruce was installed in downtown Traverse City on November 22, after a coordinated operation by city park staff and longtime partner Team Elmer's. The installation required street closures, heavy equipment, and multi day work to secure and light the tree, with impacts on downtown access through the week of Dec. 29 weather permitting.
City crews and Team Elmer's completed the installation of this year's downtown Christmas tree on November 22, a 45 foot blue spruce donated by local homeowners that weighed about 3,800 pounds. The operation combined cutting, crane work, truck transport and careful rigging as crews moved the tree from a neighborhood lot to the city center using a semi with a 52 foot trailer and an 80 ton crane.
Because the tree is unusually wide, city crews closed a block of Cass Street during installation and plan to keep that block closed through the week of Dec. 29, weather permitting. The closure supported both public safety and the staging of heavy equipment, as workers trimmed the trunk, fitted a six foot deep manhole anchor, and used shimming and sand to stabilize the base. Following placement, crews spent two to three days in bucket trucks stringing between 2,000 to 4,000 lights depending on canopy size to prepare the tree for holiday displays.
The scale and complexity of the effort highlight the municipal resources required for a single seasonal installation. Park staff coordinated across departments and with Team Elmer's, a group that has led the tree placement for 46 years, underscoring the role of long standing public private collaboration in maintaining holiday traditions. For downtown businesses and visitors the centerpiece is a seasonal draw, contributing to foot traffic and the festive atmosphere that supports retail and hospitality activity during the busiest months of the year.
The temporary Cass Street closure may affect parking and delivery patterns for merchants and residents. Officials have indicated the street will remain closed while crews complete lighting and anchoring tasks, and residents are advised to plan alternate routes and expect periodic lane restrictions on nearby blocks. As municipalities weigh costs and logistics for public displays, the Traverse City operation is a reminder that visible civic traditions rest on substantial planning and equipment, from anchor engineering beneath the pavement to heavy lift capacity above it.
