Gogebic County stands to get a full rebuild of County Road 519, a 12.8-mile stretch that serves lumber trucks, tourists headed to the Porcupine Mountains and residents who depend on it year-round.

The road scores a 2 out of 10 on the PASER pavement-condition scale, a rating that signals significant deterioration, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Two state grants approved Aug. 25 would put roughly $12.57 million into the project: a $7,542,463 Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and a $5,028,309 Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) grant to the Gogebic County Road Commission.

The funding is tied to the proposed Copperwood mine, though supporters say the rebuilt road would also serve forestry operations, residents and visitors.

"This project is about more than updating a road," said Garth Stengard, manager of the Gogebic County Road Commission, in the MEDC announcement. "It ensures all-season access for industries like lumber and timber, improves safety for daily users and helps emergency personnel respond more quickly when it matters most."

Planned upgrades would widen travel lanes and shoulders and clear the right-of-way for better snow and ice removal, Radio Results Network reported. The route connects to the Wakefield Industrial Park and recreational trailheads inside Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, according to the MEDC release.

State Transportation Director Bradley Wieferich said in the MEDC release that rebuilding the road would aid local employers and enhance access to the Porcupine Mountains.

InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante told WLUC-TV the infrastructure reaches beyond the mine, noting the rebuilt road would serve the industrial park and forestry operations.

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board voted unanimously to approve the Road Commission grant, as Upper Peninsula News reported Sept. 18. The board voted 7-2 on a separate, larger $44.97 million SSRP grant to Copperwood Resources Inc. for power, internet and communications infrastructure at the mine site.

The broader Copperwood project, backed by Highland Copper Company subsidiary Copperwood Resources, envisions a $425 million copper mine in Wakefield and Ironwood townships. The MEDC announcement projected at least 380 long-term jobs paying $80,000 to $120,000 a year, about twice the regional median wage of $44,900.

Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with commercial production anticipated in 2030, according to the MEDC release. The grant requires Highland Copper to demonstrate by March 31, 2028, that it has secured $150 million in additional financing.

The project faces legal opposition.

Protect the Porkies, a group backed by local residents, tribal nations and environmental organizations, filed a claim of appeal in Ingham County Circuit Court in September, challenging the MSF Board's Aug. 25 vote, Upper Peninsula News reported, citing Bridge Michigan. Opponents argue the funding bypassed legislative scrutiny and objected to virtual public comments being heard after the vote. In-person comments were heard beforehand.

The Michigan Attorney General's office has also been asked to review the funding, according to Bridge Michigan. No ruling in the case has been reported as of publication.

A start date for road construction has not been announced separately from the mine's timeline.