Tunnel repair prompts closure of major St. Joe Forest arterial

Work on the historic Fishhook Tunnel this summer will prompt a road closure in the St. Joe National Forest beginning this month.

The Forest Service will close the Fishhook – Gold Center Road 301, for up to eight weeks.

A recent safety inspection of the historic Fishhook Tunnel has revealed there is great potential for rock fall and the closure is necessary to protect the safety of the public as contractors repair the tunnel, according to the Forest Service.

Built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 415-foot Fishhook tunnel has been operational for almost 80 years without incident.

The Fishhook Road will be closed from the intersection with the Old River road at the St. Joe River to the intersection of the No. 753 Road at Lick Creek. Alternate routes include using the Lick Creek Road 753 to Hoyt Mountain Road 325 to Boulder Creek Road 396 to Clarkia Marble Road No. 321.

Or, use Outlaw Creek Road 1928 to Upper Lick Creek Road 1926 to Lick Creek Road 753 to Hoyt Mountain Road 325 Road to Boulder Creek Road 396 Road to Clarkia Marble Road 321.

Another alternative is to use the Avery Timber Creek Road 201 to Kelly Creek Road 1237. Or, the Kelley Creek Road 1237 from Avery to access the Avery Timber Creek Road 201. The lower three miles of the Kelly Creek Road 1237 will be closed to the public Monday to Friday from 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to the expected increase of logging trucks.