Peninsula Drive washed out north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive washed out north of Gray Road after last week's torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
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Today in Old Mission Peninsula road news, we have a washout, a new sign and some water in the road. Which is not surprising considering the amount of rain we’ve had during the past week. First, let’s take a look at the washout.

Several sections of Peninsula Drive were affected by the torrential downpour last week. The washouts seem to be a combination of wave action from West Bay and rainfall from the sky. The major issue occurred just north of Gray Road, where the road washed out so badly that the Grand Traverse County Road Commission shut it down and detoured drivers over to Center Road.

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Here are a few photos of the washout north of Gray Road and the repair. Remember that a similar situation happened on Peninsula Drive last year – in fact, almost exactly one year ago – just down the road.

Peninsula Drive washed out north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive washed out north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive wash-out repaired north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive wash-out repaired north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive wash-out repaired north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive wash-out repaired north of Gray Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo

Farther north on Peninsula Drive – south of Island View Road – another washout occurred that didn’t go quite as far into the roadbed as the other one.

Peninsula Drive washed out and shut down after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Peninsula Drive washed out south of Island View Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo

Meanwhile, over on Bluff Road, it appears that the Grand Traverse County Road Commission’s comments about shutting down the section that was washed out last fall might be coming to fruition.

While we still haven’t heard an official word on whether that section on the north end of Bluff Road will be permanently closed, these “No Outlet” signs that popped up over the past few days seem to say that might indeed be the case.

Here’s a photo of the sign at the intersection of Bluff Road and Blue Water Road.

Bluff Road gets a "No Outlet" sign at Blue Water Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
Bluff Road gets a “No Outlet” sign at Blue Water Road | Jane Boursaw Photo

And here are a few photos of the “No Outlet” sign at the corner of Boursaw Road and Smokey Hollow Road. Note that the “Road Closed” sign is still down on the corner by the Boursaw farmhouse.

Bluff Road gets a "No Outlet" sign at corner of Smokey Hollow Road and Boursaw Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
Bluff Road gets a “No Outlet” sign at corner of Smokey Hollow Road and Boursaw Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
Bluff Road gets a "No Outlet" sign at corner of Smokey Hollow Road and Boursaw Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
Bluff Road gets a “No Outlet” sign at corner of Smokey Hollow Road and Boursaw Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
"Road Closed" sign at the corner of Boursaw Road and Bluff Road | Jane Boursaw Photo
“Road Closed” sign at the corner of Boursaw Road and Bluff Road | Jane Boursaw Photo

And last but not least, here’s a photo of some water on the “S Curve” of Swaney Road on Saturday. When I went back by there on Sunday, the water had dissipated. But let’s be honest – it’s always been a swampy section of road.

Swaney Road water after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo
Water on Swaney Road after torrential downpour | Jane Boursaw Photo

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A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb

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