Hollow Corners closed at M-53 until spring for culvert work

Hollow Corners Road at M-53 has been closed to traffic since Lapeer County Road Commission crews noticed that M-53’s east shoulder had settled significantly following heavy rains last August. Photo by PHIL FOLEY ALMONT TWP. — This could well be the winter of discontent for some people living along Hollow Corners Road.

State Department of Transportation officials say it will take until spring to replace a seven-by-10-foot culvert running under M-53 that was partially washed out during August flooding.

Hollow Corners Road at M-53 has been closed to traffic since Lapeer County Road Commission crews noticed M-53’s east shoulder had settled significantly following heavy rains that caused the Belle River and other waterways in the county to flood.

Dewane Petzold, a project engineer with MDOT’s Davison office, said the culvert was built under the road in two sections sometime in the 1920s.

He said Dan’s Excavating in Shelby Township was recently awarded a $1 million contract to replace the culvert.

Petzold said the company is slated to install some temporary flooring in a portion of the culvert to prevent further scouring, but it won’t begin work on replacing it until the spring.

At some point, he said, M-53 will be closed in both directions for four to five days, and traffic will be detoured onto county roads, but he added, “we’re trying to keep the traffic disruption to a minimum.”

He said Hollow Corners Road will remain closed at M-53 until the culvert is replaced. He added Dan’s Excavating will be replacing the orange barrels on M-53 at Hollow Corners Road with a temporary concrete barrier for the winter.

— Phil Foley