Keweenaw Peninsula road & trail groups prepare for winter with new equipment, repairs

HOUGHTON and KEWEENAW COUNTIES, Mich. (WLUC) - The Keweenaw Peninsula is preparing for the return of winter.

The Houghton County Road Commission (HCRC) says it will use new equipment to better clear the roads.

"We were able to purchase a few loader-mount snowblowers through a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) grant," HCRC County Engineer Kevin Harju said. "A snowblower costs about $280,000 and we were able to get a $100,000 grant for each of them to help pay for that through the USDA, which was very helpful because our current blowers are anywhere between 25 and 30 years old."

Harju says the commission also has new sanders on order but has already been waiting a year and a half for them. It's unclear when they'll arrive. Harju says the long wait time is due to a supply issue.

Harju also wants to remind you of a new law signed by Governor Whitmer in July . It requires drivers to stay 200 feet behind active snowplows.

"Please give them a lot of room," Harju continued. "They're busy just trying to move the snow and not hit things."

The Keweenaw Snowmobile Club is also preparing for the season. The club has been working on the Freda Trail, which is north of South Range. According to the club's president, Ryan LaPorte, the trail has been inaccessible since the Father's Day Flood in 2018.

"We did some repairs out there this year on some major culverts that were out," LaPorte said. "The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) is working on the grades section to repair a bridge and a couple of major wash-outs on that side. We'll be excited to have that trail opening next year."

The club also invites you to a trail maintenance event Saturday . Paired into groups, you'll clean up the trails and install signage for several hours.

"We'll take anybody that's willing and has some time," LaPorte added. "Come on out. We've got some stuff you can do via truck or you can bring a side-by-side ATV with you."

The event begins at 9 a.m. at the Trailside Lodge in Calumet. Food will be served after the event, between 3-4 p.m.