Road leading to Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Park susceptible to shoreline erosion

Lake of the Clouds at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. (WLUC Photo)
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ONTONAGON, Mich. (WLUC) - In Ontonagon County, shoreline erosion is jeopardizing travel to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park.

The 107 Engineers Memorial Highway runs very close to Lake Superior in sections. It's the main entry road on the east end of the state park.

High Lake Superior water levels have put the highway in danger of being washed out. The DNR is working with the Ontonagon County Road Commission to fix the problem. The DNR is not typically involved in county road projects, but is in this case because of the road's importance to the park.

"We need to start as soon as possible, there are some areas where the water is right up at the black top. If we get a large storm event for several days like out of the north east, that could potentially wash the road out overnight," said Mike Maloney, an engineer with the Ontonagon County Road Commission.

The project would cost an estimated 550-thousand dollars. The County and DNR are working to secure money to get going. Temporary work is ongoing, which means some single lane closures.
