Lake Michigan waves wash away pavement in NW Indiana town

BEVERLY SHORES, Ind. (AP) - Waves from Lake Michigan have washed away a section of pavement in a Northwest Indiana town, threatening utility lines and nearby homes.

Rangers with the Indiana Dunes National Park stood guard Thursday morning at a sharp cliff overlooking Lake Michigan that was once parking for Lakeview Beach in the town of Beverly Shores, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Chicago.

A section of roadway near that location has been closed for the past month, Beverly Shores Town Council President Geof Benson told The (Northwest Indiana) Times.

Bruce Rowe, the park's supervisory ranger, said rangers were still assessing the damage caused by the storm, but acknowledged a 'œsignificant piece of pavement was lost.'ť

'œI do want to mention that erosion from spring storms is normal, although intensified due to the current high lake levels, but that beaches always build back up during the summer,'ť he said. 'œThe extent of that buildup will vary greatly dependent upon the lake's height.'ť

Benson said the town is attempting to borrow $5 million to further protect its shoreline and combat the worsening problem of erosion.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order in late February directing state agencies to take steps to mitigate the erosion of the Lake Michigan shoreline but stopped short of declaring it a state disaster area.