*** M-185 is currently open all the way around. There is a possibility of additional road closures later this week, and we’ll update them as we receive them.***
M-185, the state highway that encircles Mackinac Island, will be partially closed for the 2021 summer season. Construction crews will be paving portions of the road that were damaged due to erosion stemming from high water levels.
M-185 will be closed from Arch Rock to British Landing on the north side of the island, a section totaling about four miles. Barricades and signs will mark the closed portions of the road. Guests who ride to Arch Rock will have to turn around and ride back toward town. At British Landing, riders can turn up British Landing Road and ride toward the center of the island. It is recommended that riders start their trip in the interior of the island and then make their way to British Landing.
People found going around the barricades can be issued tickets and fines.
Mackinac State Historic Parks thanks visitors and residents of Mackinac Island for their patience while the road has been under repair.
ESTIMATED STARTING DATE:
May 10, 2021
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE:
October 2021
PROJECT:
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing about $6 million to rebuild M-185 on Mackinac Island, addressing high-water and wave erosion damage on the shoreline. Roughly 4 miles of the highway around the island (the only state highway in Michigan that does not regularly allow automobile traffic) sustained ongoing damage that escalated in fall 2019 and winter 2020.
The project will repair armor stone along M-185, primarily along the eastern and northern shore of the island from north of Dennis O. Cawthorne Shoreline Trail to British Landing. One location on the western shore, near Devil’s Kitchen, will also be repaired. Work also includes pavement repairs to previously washed out and damaged pavement.
Work is expected to begin in June with shoreline armor stone repairs progressing through to Labor Day. Pavement restoration will take place in September.
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS:
The work will require one-mile segments of M-185 to be closed during repairs. Current plans call for work to start at the Devil’s Kitchen location and then proceed to the eastern shore and move north to British Landing. Each segment will have bicycle/horse/pedestrian traffic detoured inland during repairs and will be reopened to traffic when complete. Detour routes for non-motorized traffic will be similar to those used during last summer’s emergency work on the island.
SAFETY BENEFITS:
This project will restore a safe pavement surface and mitigate future erosion damage.
