TRAVERSE CITY — Road repairs continue to pile up across northern Michigan following another round of heavy rainfall that submerged parts of streets and state roads in Antrim, Leelanau and Emmet counties.
A severe storm dropped heavy rainfall Monday across northern parts of the Lower Peninsula, with some locations reporting at least 6 inches of rain.
The latest storm caused flash floods and resulted in another torrential blow to the region that was still working to repair damage from widespread flooding earlier this spring.
County road commission crews spent Tuesday addressing the flooding damage and establishing safe detour routes for motorists. Michigan Department of Transportation also dispatched crews to assess the conditions of state roads, communications representative Dan Weingarten said.
“It’s going to take awhile,” Weingarten continued. “We’re asking for everybody’s patience while our personnel are out there figuring out how to, first of all, route people around these areas and make sure everybody’s safe.
“And once we get detours and closures in place, then (we) figure out what the best way forward is for repairs.”
ANTRIM COUNTY
Antrim County Road Commission crews were completing assessments and repairs in the field after flooding washed out many county roads and culverts.
The road commission updated residents in a Facebook post, urging caution and patience where barricades and road crews were present.
“We are facing a significant number of washouts and culvert failures,” the post reads. “Please use extreme caution in affected areas and expect delays. When roads are closed, do not go around barricades — they are there for your safety.”
According to a release distributed by MDOT Tuesday afternoon, parts of M-66 and M-88 remained closed following culvert failures, washouts and reports of water over the roadways.
“M-66 is still closed over Lilak Creek, south of East Jordan,” Weingarten said. “We had a culvert failure there and the roadway is compromised.”
Weingarten said M-88 also remains closed at Wilkinson Creek, east of Eastport, due to a washout. Another washout location was reported at Coulter Creek, west of Ellsworth Road. MDOT crews established detours for the closures, Weingarten added, noting that M-88 motorists can follow the posted detour on Ellsworth Road to Atwood Road and then move west to U.S. 31.
The road commission posted a second update Tuesday afternoon, noting that north and southbound lanes were closed on M-88 after being submerged between Darmon Place and Meggison Road.
EMMET COUNTY
Emmet County Road Commission provided further information to residents Tuesday morning on its Facebook page, listing that locations along M-119 were closed and asking residents to seek alternative routes.
Closures included M-119 between S. Lamkin, Ball Hill and Middle Village roads, as well as between Division Road and Island View Drive. Parts of M-119 were also closed between Stutsmanville and Terpening roads. According to the posted update, Lower Shore Drive remained closed between Windemere Drive and S. Lake Shore Drive, too.
“Please drive with caution throughout the county,” the post stated. “Be alert for downed trees, branches, shoulder washouts and other debris that may still be present on roadways.”
MDOT’s North Region Associate Engineer Bill Wahl stated in the department’s release that the rainfall the area received between Sunday night and Monday was “extreme.”
“These were not conditions the roads were designed for when they were built decades ago,” he said.
Weingarten clarified that repairs for these closures will take time.
“We’re talking about a matter of weeks or months,” he said. “We’re still in the stage of figuring out what kind of damage has occurred at these different places and what would need to be done, then we’ll have to get emergency contracts in place to do repairs.”
LEELANAU COUNTY
Road Commission Manager Brendan Mullane said Tuesday that Leelanau road crews assisted MDOT on Monday with the temporary closure of M-22 — or Northwest Bay Shore Drive — just south of Lee Mann Road.
“Water was overtaking the road and they weren’t sure about its structural stability, but the water subsided and they determined that it was still safe, so it’s open again,” Mullane said, noting it reopened that afternoon.
Leelanau road crews continue to monitor smaller roads affected by the heavy rainfall, Mullane said. Following a culvert washout, the commission’s Facebook page alerted motorists that 8133 N. Gills Pier Road remained closed to through traffic until further notice.
“That’s closed for now,” Mullane said, noting the gravel road’s culvert washed out. “We have to get the right size culvert we can put back in place.”
Residents living on the north end of Gills Pier Road are urged to use E. Onomonee Road as a detour until it’s reopened.
Mullane asked drivers to remain cautious of any pavement submerged under water and to find an alternative route. He also said he hopes residents will call the road commission to report any further damage throughout the county.
“I appreciate people giving us a heads-up,” Mullane said. “Some of these quieter roads, we may not know what’s going on unless someone tells us.”
Residents can call the Leelanau County Road Commission office — located at 10550 E. Eckerle Road in Suttons Bay — at 231-271-3993.
GRAND TRAVERSE
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission continues to repair damage after widespread spring flooding across county roads in April.
Crews are actively patching potholes, completing grading and repairing signage at various locations across the area. Catch-basin cleanup and repairs are also still underway, according a posted update in June.
County residents can expect an update on the Beitner Road Bridge’s estimated $5 million reconstruction by next week, according to road commission Manager Dan Watkins.
“The bridge is fully designed,” Watkins said in a video posted to the road commission’s Facebook page on June 24.
Molon Excavating recently cleared debris — steel, concrete and asphalt — from the Boardman River after receiving a $100,000 contract from the road commission to complete clean-up.
The local excavation company also received a second contract — totaling more than $109,000 — to help address flooding damage and assist in repairs at the Brown Bridge Road culvert.
Watkins added that all of the Beitner Road Bridge information was required to be submitted to MDOT since the project is expected to receive federal aid funding.
“What that means is we’ll be getting 80 percent of the project paid for by Fed-Aid and the other 20 percent will be coming from the road commission,” Watkins said. “Currently, this project is out to bid.”
Watkins said a bid opening is set for July 10 and the road commission is expected to make a selection at a special meeting set for July 13.
The manager said he anticipates an update to the project’s timeline following that selection.
. Once the rebuild begins, the bridge is expected to take roughly six months to complete.
According to Weingarten, public notices will be released through the MDOT website once repair schedules are established.
Just The Facts The public is encouraged to check Michigan.gov/Drive for updated state road closures and detour information. {related_content_uuid}d50ae1f4-9359-4ed7-88b8-e7cc9d0edf14{/related_content_uuid}