Port Austin Reef Light Station Restoration

Spicer Group provided full construction engineering and construction inspection, testing, and administration for the restoration and preservation project of the 128-year-old light station located 1 mile offshore from Port Austin, MI in Lake Huron. The Port Austin Reef Light Station’s project includes the installation of new windows, historic masonry cleaning, repair and repointing, restoration of original railings and exterior stairs as well as adding emergency back-up power. The project is funded through an 80% Federal Transportation grant and a 20% local match. The grant, as well as bidding, is being administered through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The light station is on the Michigan Registry of Historic Places, as well as the National Registry of Historic Places.

Acting as the project manager and project engineer for the restoration construction, Spicer Group’s experienced and trained technicians reviewed shop-drawings and ensured everything was built to historic specifications. This unique project required our team to regularly travel by boat to reach the light station and being on stand-by for testing as work was very weather-reliant.