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Moving forward

City approves first phase of Lakeshore Boulevard project

A road block detours motorists along Lakeshore Boulevard as waves crash over a stone barrier flooding a stretch of the road between Wright and Hawley streets in Marquette in 2013. The Marquette City Commission on Monday voted in favor of reallocating $3 million in funds to match a $2.5 million grant received by the Superior Watershed Partnership for the Lakeshore Boulevard reconstruction project. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette City Commission on Monday voted in favor of reallocating $3 million in funds to match a $2.5 million grant received by the Superior Watershed Partnership for the Lakeshore Boulevard reconstruction project.

The motion was passed by a 5-2 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Reynolds and Commissioner Jenn Hill opposing.

In order to move forward with the project, funds will be taken from other planned road projects on the 2020 Capital Improvement Plan list, according to City Manager Mike Angeli. Reynolds and Hill both alleged the commission didn’t have enough time to review the changes, which is why they opposed the motion.

“I don’t feel like I’ve had enough time to look over what’s going to be put off by doing this project,” Hill said, adding that she’s wary of putting money toward Lakeshore Boulevard when there are several regularly used roads in disrepair throughout that city which need attention sooner than later.

Marquette resident Matthew Luttenberger, who frequently speaks during the public comment period at commission meetings, echoed Reynolds’ and Hill’s thoughts, while Margaret Brumm, who also addresses the commission regularly, said she’s in favor of the project as it’s a favored scenic drive by many in the city.

Earlier this year, SWP was awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Fund for the restoration of Lake Superior shoreline and relocation of Lakeshore Boulevard between East Fair Avenue and Hawley Street.

The Lakeshore Boulevard Relocation and Coastal Restoration Project is forecasted to cost around $12.3 million and will be completed in two phases.

The plan is to shift the road inland a maximum of roughly 300 feet, elevate it 4 to 6 feet and move the multiuse path closer to the shoreline, City Engineer Keith Whittington has previously said. The project also involves creating additional beach and parking areas, establishing a designated area for natural habitats and feature engineered boulders — similar to the rocks along the shoreline on the west side of Presque Isle Park near the pavilion — to protect land from erosion.

The first phase will focus on relocating the road and placing some temporary boulders along the shoreline. The second phase will address the rest of the plan.

The SWP grant was contingent upon a match from the city since the first phase of the project is expected to cost around $4.4 million. Construction for the first phase is being recommended for 2020 with phase two to follow in 2021-2022.

There are currently a few pending grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and another through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for phase two. However, funding has not yet been secured.

City staff has discussed relocating roughly a mile of the scenic route along Lake Superior shoreline since the road is often closed due to severe weather-related events, something city officials have said costs between $3,000 and $6,000 to clean up after each event.

In 2013, the commission approved an initial design but the city wasn’t able to attain any funds to move forward with the project. After the grant was secured by the SWP, the city commission held a work session in February, putting the project back on the table after several years.

“The opportunity for a wonderful $2.5 million grant has come along and funding has always been our issue, so I think the time is now,” said Commissioner Jenna Smith.

Mayor Fred Stonehouse said by moving the road, people will have more access to lakeshore property than ever before.

“Instead of just being able to park alongside the road, you’ll be able to go down and see it and experience it and get a much better view of it,” he said. “We are a maritime community. People come here for the water. We live here because of the water.

“Lakeshore Boulevard is also perhaps the oldest drive in Marquette, built in the 1880s when Peter White was able to obtain Presque Isle for the citizens of Marquette. This was the road that was constructed to get folks to the island.”

For more information on the proposed project, visit www.marquettemi.gov.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.

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