An Upper Peninsula road that skirts Lake Superior and acts as a popular short cut between Deer Park and Grand Marais could reopen in October, as long as the weather cooperates.
H-58, a mostly gravel road paralleling Lake Superior between Deer Park and Grand Marais has been closed since June at the Sucker River, about 6 miles east of Grand Marais, to replace a culvert on the river with a new bridge, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said.
"Expectation is to have the project completed by the first week of October. However, just know weather and day-today changes can slow the process," Cory Kovacs, MDNR Lake Superior unit manager, said via email.
The road often serves as a northern route between Grand Marais and Tahquamenon Falls. Drivers who wish to remain on paved roads must take a route that travels south to M-28, and through Newberry and Seney.
The current work will improve habitat for native fish species and make it possible to take steps to prevent use of the river by invasive sea lampreys.
"We will be holding a public meeting to discuss the next phase of the project on the Sucker River, which is the sea lamprey barrier," Kovac said. "Our project team will be in attendance and will be open to answering questions about the H-58 project as well as the sea lamprey barrier project to be installed in 2026. The sea lamprey barrier project will not interfere with traffic, thus no road closures since the project location will be at the end of the Whitewash Road."
The public session is slated for 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at Burt Township Hall, E. 21837 Grand Marais Ave.
What to know about the summer closure on H-58.
How long will H-58 remain closed?
The road closed June 2 and remains closed at the Sucker River. The H-58 project was slated to be completed by Sept. 30, 2025, the DNR said previously. The expectation now is to reopen the road by early October.
"The contractor is tidying up some instream work this week as they await the fabrication of the new arch culvert," Kovacs said. "The new arch culvert is scheduled to begin placement the week of Labor Day. Then, the crew will be working on backfilling and the remaining work. We stay in touch with the contractor weekly and they have done an excellent job of keeping us informed on updates and daily reports."
Is all of H-58 closed?
No, the road is only closed at the Sucker River where work is taking place. Drivers can use the rest of the road, and others in the area.
Why did H-58 close?
The Alger County Road Commission, DNR, Great Lakes Fishery Commission and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are partnering for a project to replace a twin culvert at the river crossing with a freestanding bridge.
The H-58 crossing on the Sucker River had consisted of two "perched" 8-foot culverts that were a barrier to native fish species such as suckers and brook trout, but only a partial barrier to the invasive sea lamprey, the DNR said.
Over the past six years, Michigan DNR Fisheries Division has collaborated with United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Alger County Road Commission, and Superior Watershed Partnership to secure funding and design a free-span arch culvert to replace the perched undersized culverts.
"By improving this crossing with a river channel spanning structure, an additional 115 miles of river will now be available to native fish species passage and natural stream functions will be restored," the DNR said.
Will any steps be take to stop lamprey from using the river?
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has funded a seasonal sea lamprey barrier to be installed 18 miles upstream from the H-58 crossing to prevent any access by sea lamprey to premium spawning habitat and difficult-to-treat areas.
The sea lamprey barrier will be constructed in 2026.
How much will the bridge project cost?
The H-58 project has been funded through Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Great Lake Restoration Initiative, Michigan DNR Fisheries Habitat Grant, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Sustain Our Great Lakes.
The H-58 project will cost $2.35 million.
What roads can I use instead of H-58?
The official detour around the construction, all on paved roads, from Grand Marais is south on M-77 to M-28, then east on M-28 to M-123. The route then is north on M-123 through Newberry to County Road 407, and continuing north to Deer Park near Muskallonge Lake State Park.
An emergency services detour is being maintained by the contractor for the project.
Grand Marais to Deer Park via H-58 is about 17 miles. The detour is about 76 miles.
Does H-58 pass Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
H-58 does travel along the national lakeshore, but not the section that will close.
Pictured Rocks is to the west of Grand Marais, the section closing is east of the village.
What parks, attractions are along H-58?
Between Grand Marais and Deer Park are several parks and campgrounds, including: