Lakeshore Drive Managed Retreat Project

Project Description:

For nearly 40 years, Lakeshore Drive in Saugatuck Township has experienced severe washouts of the roadway due to coastal erosion. The road washouts have claimed two lives and eliminated Lakeshore Drive’s north-south access, significantly impacting access to emergency services.

This has led to continuously eliminating the road’s north-south access throughout the years, which significantly impacts residents, visitors, and emergency services. Coastal erosion along Lakeshore Drive is only going to worsen if we stand by and do nothing.

Therefore, in 2022, the Allegan County Road Commission, in partnership with Saugatuck Township, determined to study long-term management strategies for the nearly two miles of Lakeshore Drive threatened by coastal erosion:

On July 19, 2022, the Allegan County Road Commission and Saugatuck Township held a joint public information workshop at Saugatuck High School to discuss long-term erosion management strategies for Lakeshore Drive. Discussion included: existing bluff conditions, the ongoing risk coastal erosion poses to the roadway, and design options for long-term management of Lakeshore Drive. A recording of the workshop is accessible on the Saugatuck Township- Lakeshore Drive Managed Retreat Project web page through YouTube.

In September 2022, the Allegan County Road Commission received financial assistance from the Michigan Coastal Management Program, Water Resources Division of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) under the National Coastal Zone Management Program, through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA) to enlist Prein & Newhof to evaluate long-term management strategies for Lakeshore Drive. In their Lakeshore Drive Study Report, accessible to the general public, Prein & Newhof concluded that the construction of a new inland road is the preferred strategy to address the imminent risk of future roadway failures.

On Dec. 29, 2023, Prein & Newhof published its Lakeshore Drive Site Investigation Report and Lakeshore Drive Site Investigation Maps and Appendices for the Allegan County Road Commission and financially supported by EGLE, under the National Coastal Zone Management Program through a grant from NOAA. The Investigation Report evaluates alternatives and challenges, determines design parameters for a new roadway, and developing preliminary design drawings for the selected route within three phases:
- Phase 1: Construction on a portion of Lakeshore Drive and adding public road connectors at 126th Avenue and 130th Avenue (Wiley Road) as it provides the backbone of the connection of properties along the lakeshore.Phase 2: Construction of connector roadways and tie-ins to existing private roads and parcels. It is anticipated this will occur over time and as needed on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis as access is threatened.
- Phase 3: The final phase of the managed retreat from Lakeshore Drive will involve private driveways and any shared access routes constructed by property owners as access is eventually lost to the existing roadway.

What’s Next:

The Allegan County Road Commission will be applying for a BUILD GRANT to explore the project further. Currently there are no set dates for construction to begin.

The Township fully appreciates community feedback on all projects and understands voiced concerns of the project’s new north/south roadway: 69th Street. Saugatuck Township and the Allegan County Road Commission care deeply about the safety of our residents and the condition of our area’s roadways. Together, our goal is to secure safe access to the Lakeshore Drive community for years to come.

For more information on the Lakeshore Drive Managed Retreat Project, including all study reports and materials, as well as details on 69th Street’s proposed route and roadway design, visit the Allegan County Road Commission website or scan the QR code below.

Coastal Management Resources

Adapting to a Changing Great Lakes Coast (Video)

Shoreline Hard Armoring (Video)

Michigan’s Great Lake Shorelines Throughout Time (Online App)

Lake Level Viewer (Online App)

Kalamazoo Lake Harbor Study (Website)

Living On The Coast: Protecting Investments In Shore Property On The Great Lakes (Online Guide)