County Road 595 (Marquette County, Michigan)

County Road 595 (CR 595), commonly referred to as simply "595," is a county-maintained road in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. The road is notable for its controversial construction history related to the Eagle Mine, a nickel and copper mine operated by Lundin Mining near Humboldt Township.

CR 595 was built to provide a more direct route for hauling ore from the Eagle Mine to the Humboldt Mill, a processing facility located south of Humboldt. Prior to its construction, ore was transported via a longer route using existing county and state highways. The proposed route for CR 595 traversed a more direct path through forested and wetland areas.

The road's construction faced significant opposition from environmental groups, Native American tribes, and local residents concerned about potential environmental impacts, including damage to wetlands, fragmentation of wildlife habitats, and potential contamination of waterways. Litigation and protests delayed the project for several years.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), now the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), ultimately granted the necessary permits for the road's construction, subject to various mitigation measures designed to minimize environmental impacts. Construction of CR 595 was completed in 2014.

Since its opening, CR 595 has been used primarily for transporting ore from the Eagle Mine. Public access is permitted on the road, but its primary purpose remains industrial traffic. The environmental impacts of the road continue to be monitored and debated. The legal battles surrounding the road's construction set precedents related to mining regulations and environmental protection in Michigan.