Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is set to begin a tree removal project along US-131 north of Walloon Lake starting Monday, October 6, 2025. The work will take place between Lears Road in Emmet County and the M-75 north junction near Walloon Lake in Charlevoix County.

According to MDOT, trees will be cleared from the roadside up to 40 feet from the white lines. The project is expected to continue through Friday, December 19, 2025, though this timeline may change depending on weather conditions.

During the project, drivers should expect shoulder closures and single-lane closures managed by traffic regulators or temporary traffic signals. These restrictions are intended to maintain safety for both workers and motorists while the work is underway.

MDOT stated that removing trees from this area serves several purposes: "This work will remove roadside obstacles for drivers that leave the roadway, reduce the hazard of trees that have the potential to fall into the roadway, and reduce shading to help clear roadway ice and snow more quickly."

The affected counties are Emmet and Charlevoix, with Petoskey and Walloon Lake being the closest communities impacted by this maintenance activity.