Meeting called for storm repair update

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Ironwood Township — The Gogebic County Road Commission has scheduled a public meeting to update area residents on the upcoming Little Girl’s Point construction projects to repair much of the remaining damage from the July 11, 2016 storm.

The meeting will be at 5 p.m. Friday at the Ironwood Township Hall, according to Gogebic County Road Commission Engineering Manager Darren Pionk.

The meeting will include information on both the second year of Lake Road repairs, as well as the work to be done on the local roads, according to Pionk.

The Lake Road project will replace eight culverts, pave a half-mile stretch of Lake Road just north of the natural spring, and pave over the 10 culverts replaced last year.

Work is expected to begin next week, Pionk previously told the Daily Globe, and is scheduled to wrap up by Sept. 30.

“It’s going to be a fast-track project, of course, like we have been doing, but I don’t see any issues with the work not being completed,” Pionk said. “We all anticipate the entire project will be completed this year.”

The use of Powers Road as a detour isn’t expected to be necessary during the Lake Road construction, according to Pionk, as the west side of each washout being worked on will be able to be accessed from Wisconsin and the east side of each will be able to be accessed from Ironwood.

Along with the Lake Road work, the commission will be working on several local roads around the Point.

Using a $1 million special legislative grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation office, Pionk said work will be done to replace 14 culverts on Brace and Powers roads, Partridge and Aspen lanes and other locations in the area.

The grant allows the commission to complete needed repairs to the roads that weren’t eligible for federal assistance, according to Pionk.

“With the flooding event back in July 2016, we did receive funding through the emergency relief program, but that was only for culverts damaged that were (under) federal aid-eligible roads — which is Lake Road itself,” Pionk said.

“We had so much damage on the local road system, and (didn’t have) any other funding resources available.”

Pionk said the work on the local roads will start immediately so as much work can be done before winter, with the rest completed next construction season.

Along with Friday’s meeting, Pionk said Lake Road residents will likely receive letters with the information.

In addition to the meeting and letter, weekly updates on the construction will be available on gogebiccountyroadcomission.org.