High water levels on the Great Lakes have caused over $37 million in damage to county roads. The data being released by the County Road Association of Michigan from a survey of 38 responding counties. Director Denise Donohue says one well-known road in northwest Michigan will require a costly repair.
“In Grand Traverse County they have a road called Bluff Road, and many of us are familiar with it,” says Donohue. “It runs along the Old Mission Peninsula as we travel up there to wineries and restaurants. They’re looking at first glance after the ice has melted at $2.25 million in repair costs to stabilize the right of way.”
The association says in southwest Michigan there are ten locations where Lake Michigan has damaged the roads. Eight are in Berrien County, where damage is estimated at $2 million, and the other two are in Van Buren County with $1.5 million in estimated damage. Statewide, the lakes have damaged 16 miles of pavement in 133 locations, with 73 miles of pavement affected when considering detours around these locations.
Image from the County Road Association of Michigan of damage to Bluff Road in Grand Traverse County.
