Massive Gogebic County culvert replacement project under way

LITTLE GIRL'S POINT - Lake Road near Upper Powers Road is closed to traffic as the Maki Creek culvert replacement project has begun.

It is the last of 10 culvert replacement projects throughout the county and by far the most extensive, and expensive.

Smith Construction, of Marquette, the general contractor for the project, was expected to begin laying the culverts on Monday, according to an Xcel Energy worker who was at the scene on Friday.

Massive amounts of dirt were being moved in preparation for the work next week.

Federal funds are covering most of the costs because of 2013 spring flooding that washed out culverts throughout the county.

The Maki Creek culverts replacement cost was estimated at $440,000, with the county responsible for paying 20 percent.

The flooding washed out much of the base under the Lake Road surface at Maki Creek, making it unstable and leading to a cave-in that was narrowly escaped by an elderly couple in their vehicle.

There are 43 culverts along the roadway to Little Girl's Point, but there was only money to replace five sites.

The Maki Road culvert project was originally scheduled to be competed by mid-October, but was delayed.

Countywide, the Michigan Department of Transportation projects that resulted from the flooding cost around $1.2 million.

There is still access to the Little Girl's Point park and community area from Ironwood on Lake Road, but access from Wisconsin 122 goes only about a mile into Gogebic County, at the Maki Creek site.

For more information, call the road commission at 906-667-0233 or 667-0234.