Guard helps with Gogebic County road repairs

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Bessemer - Following the severe thunderstorm of July 11 that devastated Little Girl's Point, the Gogebic County Road Commission is "hard at work" repairing roads in the surrounding area.

Road commission manager Darren Pionk said Tuesday the commission has begun surveying and designing plans for the eight major sections of Lake Road that were damaged by the flash floods.

Pionk said the damages total about $5.5 million.

Down the road, Pionk said the commission has suspended all future road projects this year to help fund repairs and is also looking for additional funding. Pionk said road projects currently in progress will still be completed.

"It's unfortunate, but it's necessary," Pionk said. "I think the townships realize this could happen to any community. We just have to care of this disaster."

As a possible source of funding, Pionk said the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are looking at federal emergency relief funds.

"Unfortunately, that funding only covers the roads that are federally eligible, which includes Lake Road. It doesn't cover all the other local roads," Pionk said.

On Friday, July 16, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency for areas in Gogebic County impacted by the storm. He sent members of the Michigan National Guard to assist with the recovery.

While in the area, Pionk said the National Guard has helped with establishing emergency access along Lake Road, and at Powers Road and Aspen Lane. He said access to Little Girl's Point is limited to local traffic.

Along with the road commission, Pionk said the Michigan Department of Transportation and the highway administration have also been able to help.

"MDOT has been great to work with," Pionk said. "They are definitely helping out the road commission in a time of need."

In addition, Pionk said representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality helped with the relief effort.