The paving project on the Gunflint Trail will begin mid-August. The Contractor is scheduled to begin at the intersection of W 92 and the Gunflint. Seventeen culverts are to be replaced along with new road surface added.

The Contractor will first strip the bituminous surface, then excavate one lane of the road to remove and replace the old culvert with a new reinforced concrete pipe. Traffic will be limited to one lane at that time. Please follow visual instructions from personnel on site and proceed through the area with caution when instructed. After half of the pipe has been installed and buried, the lane of travel will transition to the opposite side of the road, and the other half of the pipe will be replaced. This method will continue throughout the project. 

There may be some limited delays during the process, and we ask for your patience while we complete this work.

To address concerns about wildfire danger/evacuation efforts, and how those efforts and the safety of the public could be impacted by our construction activities, the Highway Department will implement the plan below: 

In the interest of public safety during times of increased wildfire activity, Highway Department Engineering personnel will actively monitor the updates from Cook County Emergency Management as well as State and Federal agencies responding to the wildfires. If evacuation zones are identified in the area served by the Gunflint Trail, and those evacuation zones are elevated to the “Set” level (“Ready, Set, Go” orders), all excavations will be immediately filled, and all construction activity will then cease. This will allow responding fire personnel to gain access to the area while residents and visitors have a clear path to evacuate if a “Go” order is issued.

Construction activity will only resume after the evacuation level is reduced to a “Ready” state, or the evacuation zones are lifted completely.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Stay safe, stay aware, and keep an eye out for your neighbors.