MACKINAC ISLAND, MI - After a long summer of construction crews and “road closed” signs, Mackinac Island’s perimeter road is now fully back open to traffic, be it foot, bike or horse.
The finishing touches were recently put on the $6 million project to rebuild a portion of M-185, the state’s only highway where vehicles are largely banned. Half of the 8.2 mile stretch needed to be repaired and rebuilt after sustaining severe damage from high water levels and churning wave action the last couple of years.
“The project has repaired 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,” according to the Mackinac State Historic Parks staff. “One location on the western shore, near Devil’s Kitchen, was also repaired. Work also included pavement repairs to previously washed out and damaged pavement.”
After some fixes were made in 2020, the work to address about 4 miles of M-185 began in earnest this past May. The work included laying down lots of geotextile fabric and installing tons of new riprap rock to provide a better buffer between the water and the shoreline road.
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