Beavers believe to be cause of Hansen Rd. culvert blockage; road is open again.

Photo courtesy of Mason County Road Commission.

Photo courtesy of Mason County Road Commission.

Beavers believe to be cause of Hansen Rd. culvert blockage; road is open again.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Hansen Road, between Dennis and Victory Corner roads is open to traffic again. The road was closed last week to allow crews from Mason County Road Commission to unplug a 48-inch culvert underneath the road. MCRC  Highway Engineer/Project Manager Eric Nelson said it is believed that the culvert was initially plugged by beavers. 

The issue was discovered on Nov. 23. Crews set up pumps to drain the plugged culvert, which was located about 35 feet below the roadway. 

“The water level on the south side of the road was about 10 feet above the flow line of the 48-inch culvert,” Nelson said.  

Hallack Contracting of Hart was called to set up one 6-inch pump and started pumping on Thursday, Nov. 24. 

“The water level was estimated to be rising about 1 1/2 inches per day based on the discovery on Nov. 23 to before pumping on Nov. 24,” Nelson said. “With one pump the water level has been dropping at a rate of  

about 3 1/2 inches per day. A second pump was added on Nov. 29 and started pumping about 2:30 p.m.  With two 6-inch pumps pumping the water level was dropping about 6-inches per day.

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