Snowmelt and blocked culvert leads to standing water on the Gunflint Trail ahead of Fishing Opener
A plugged culvert on the Gunflint Trail has water standing on the popular roadway as the Fishing Opener nears.
Water is blocking the southbound lane on the Gunflint near the turnoff for East Bearskin Road in the Mid-Trail area. Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass told WTIP May 9 that a blocked culvert under the Gunflint Trail is causing the issue. After exhausting all options, the local highway department is opting to let the situation resolve itself rather than attempt to dig up the local roadway.
Minnesota’s Fishing Opener is Saturday, May 13. Anglers and other motorists traveling up and down the Gunflint should be aware of the situation with the standing water near East Bearskin Road. Signage is in place notifying motorists of the situation.
In other news from the local highway department, the first public meeting to discuss the Devil Track Road Reconditioning Project is taking place this week.
The meeting is scheduled for May 11 from 6-7 p.m. in the commissioners’ room at the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais.
The purpose of the meeting will be to gather input from the public on desired changes for the road. The project is slated for 2025 construction. The project location will be the end of the paved portion of County Road 8, also known as Devil Track Road on the north side of Devil Track Lake from the end of the pavement at Devil Track Lake Campground entrance to CR 27/Ball Club Road.
Hass spoke with WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs during a May 9 update. Also covered in the discussion was news following a meeting of the Grand Marais Planning & Zoning Commission last week regarding safety on the Gunflint Trail near a proposed apartment complex. Following the May 3 meeting at city hall, it was determined that in order for the proposed apartment complex to move forward, city officials want Hass to approve a traffic plan to make the area as safe as possible. Hass said the process would take time, and it remains unknown what extent the county could, or should have in determining the outcome of a proposed apartment complex in Grand Marais.
“What we’re working on right now is just to really clarify what that role is for us,” he said.
Listen to the audio below to hear the full interview with Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass.
Joe Friedrichs May 10, 2023
