ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, decided to revoke a road-use license with the city of East Gull Lake, in Cass County, Minnesota, on a portion of East Gull Lake Drive effective Dec. 1, 2025.
The decision comes after emergency repairs were completed on this section of road in 2017, when multiple safety, maintenance, environmental and cultural impacts came to light.
These impacts include concerns for the safety of campers crossing the one-lane road and bridge to access Corps day-use facilities, wear and tear on the bridge and dam structure constructed in 1911 and the roadway crossing over and through a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Summertime traffic counts found an average of 1,400 vehicles per day using the road – 2,000 on busy weekends – with oversized vehicles, to include semis and dump trucks, crossing the bridge and dam. Five Tribal nations have requested the road be closed to vehicular traffic.
The St. Paul District worked closely with city, county and tribal representatives as the district evaluated issues surrounding the roadway and will continue to do so during the 6-year timeframe before the road is closed. Until then, an agreement will be in place for the city to use and maintain the roadway.
“We’ve heard from community members impacted by this decision, which is why the road will remain open while city and county officials work to secure funding, design and construct an alternate roadway,” said Col. Sam Calkins, district commander.
More information at: http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Gull-Lake-Road/.
Release no. 19-004