Monroe Road expected to remain closed overnight.

Monroe Road expected to remain closed overnight.

PENTWATER — Monroe Road (Business Route US 31) near Longbridge Road was closed to traffic Monday evening, May 18, due to flooding, and it is now expected to remain closed until Wednesday, May 20.

“Monroe Road will remain closed at least overnight due to water over the road,” said Oceana County Road Commission Managing Director Mark Timmer.

Timmer was hoping to re-open the road later Tuesday afternoon, May 19, but the water has not receded enough. “It receded a little but not enough to open it,” he said.

High water levels on Pentwater River and Pentwater Lake coupled with recent heavy rains caused water to flood the roadway.

Longbridge Road remains open, Timmer said.

The road commission is working on a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) flood mitigation project in the area. Workers are installing a system of temporary dams and pumps to mitigate flooding issues due to high water levels.

The project began Monday, May 18, and will continue until approximately July 3, according to MDOT.

“Lane closures will be in effect for the duration of the project, as well as full closures with detours during the underground work for pump installation,” states MDOT. “This project will minimize the water over the road and extend the service life of the roadway.”

High water levels closed Longbridge Road last spring, forcing residents to take a long detour around the lake. A $400,000 project re-opened the road seven months later in November of 2019.

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