M-119 Tunnel of Trees Resiliency Study

About this study

In early April 2026, a combination of heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt washed out a section of M-119 between Good Hart and Cross Village, south of Division Road. Additionally, the slope beneath M-119 near Stutsmanville Road south of Good Hart began to fail, leading MDOT to close the roadway out of caution.

In late June 2026, another significant rainstorm (dropping 5 to 7 inches of rain in a few hours) resulted in additional washouts on M-119 near Middle Village Road, South Lamkin Road, Horseshoe Bend and Devil’s Elbow.

MDOT maintenance staff, the Emmet County Road Commission and contractors have since been able to repair and reopen several segments of M-119. MDOT completed a $300,000 project to stabilize the slope near Stutsmanville Road with retaining walls just before Labor Day 2026. Smaller repairs were completed over the summer to stabilize M-119 near Middle Village Road, South Lamkin Road and Horseshoe Bend.

Beyond the current closed locations, MDOT is planning to contract with a consultant to perform a comprehensive resiliency study of the M-119 Tunnel of Trees corridor for improvements and long-term management, looking at existing and potential erosion, drainage, slope stability and geotechnical conditions.

Closed M-119 segments

The segments of M-119 closed to through-traffic remain open to local traffic. Access to residences and businesses in the closed portions will be maintained.

Division Road

South of Division Road due to a culvert failure and washout in April. Traffic is detoured on Island View Road and North State Road. The exact scope and feasibility of repairs is currently being analyzed on an expedited schedule. This closure is expected to remain until at least through 2027.
Devils Elbow

At Devil’s Elbow due to washouts in late June. Traffic is detoured on West Stutsmanville Road, Townline Road, Church Road and Robinson Road. No firm timeline for repairs to that section is known at this time.

A map of M‑119 along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Cross Village and Harbor Springs highlighting two road‑closed locations on M‑119 with warning icons. Green‑outlined detour routes direct traffic onto State Road, Island View Road, Robinson Road, Church Road, Townline Road, and Stutsmanville Road. A legend at the bottom explains symbols for road closures, roads closed to through‑traffic, and detour routes. Two photos on the left show severe roadway washouts: one image shows a collapsed section of roadway with a damaged guardrail and flowing water, and the other image shows a deep eroded area filled with debris.

Click to expand the map

Study details

Questions? Contact Jay Gailitis, Gaylord TSC Manager, at 989-731-5090.

Schedule

November 2026 - September 2028

Location

Emmet County

Study aspects

Evaluating existing and potential erosion, slope stability and geotechnical conditions.
Developing alternatives for repair strategies and mitigation measures.
Recommending short, intermediate and long-term corridor management.
Producing scoping documents for viable repair options, conceptual drawings and cost estimates.
Assessing associated environmental, social, economic and access impacts.
Concluding with a comprehensive resiliency study that documents existing conditions, summarizes modeling results, evaluates alternatives and their corresponding impacts, and presents recommended actions.

Suggested plantings to prevent M-119 erosion