News Photo by Crytal Nelson Waves crash along the side of a bike trail adjacent to U.S.-23 North on Wedesday, just north of Shore Drive in Presque Isle County.

ROGERS CITY — The Michigan Department of Transportation has plans to shore up a stretch of bike path that runs adjacent to U.S.-23 North between Rogers City and Hoeft State Park.

Rising water levels on Lake Huron have caused erosion near a portion of the trail, which is in need of repair.

“There is a drop-off adjacent to the trail that we need to get fixed, and there’s some cones up there notifying people of that,” Kevin Schaedig, operations engineer with MDOT, said.

He said the roadway of U.S.-23 is not impacted at this time.

Schaedig said the department is putting together “an emergency-type project” that would address the erosion issues occurring there and will be working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain permits for the project.

Schaedig said the project is still in the design phase, but will require “quite a bit of stone.” The project would require the installation of stone to function similar to a breakwall.

The stretch of bikepath along U.S.-23 is not the only area along Lake Huron impacted by the rising water levels. Rogers City officials will also have to address problems caused by erosion.

City Manager Joe Hefele said his team is looking at some “potential projects” caused by the rising lake levels. He said they will have to relocate some of the asphalt along the city’s bike path and address issues at the city’s water wellhouse and parking lot at Seagull Point Park.

He said the city will also have to address issues at the city marina. The News previously reported city officials are particularly concerned about erosion occurring around new signage installed this year and that the breakwater underneath Smitka Park, located on the northernmost point of the harbor, is beginning to slide out.

In addition to the work the city will need to complete, Hefele said there are a few homeowners who are working through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to have a private retaining wall installed in order to save their homes.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.