Challenge: Historic high waters and heavy wind conditions cause severe erosion along scenic M-185 that rings Mackinac Island. Reconstruction occurs on an island during historic high traffic volumes and a global pandemic.
Solution: Careful coordination, planning, attention to detail, and respect for all during the reconstruction of erosion barriers above and below the ordinary high water mark of Lake Huron.
M-185 is the only state highway in the nation where motor vehicles are banned, creating a popular 8.2 mile route around Mackinac Island for 800,000 annual hikers and cyclist. But high lake levels and numerous winter storms wreaked havoc on the island, eroding the shoreline and washing out sections of the road.
In 2020, Team Elmer’s was called in to rebuild 1,000 lineal feet of shoreline near Arch Rock and install more than 12,000 ton of rock.
Rebuilding the bed of the road was Phase 2 of a 3-phase project. The repairs began the previous fall (Phase 1) with emergency repairs and salvaging the road from further dama... Read more
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