Heavy equipment is parked near Lakeshore Boulevard in Marquette. (Journal photo by Abby LaForest)

MARQUETTE — The city of Marquette is preparing for a variety of upcoming construction projects this summer, with a few of them affecting roadways within the city.

Construction has already begun on fixing up city sidewalks, where the goal is to fix trip hazards, fill in three coal bunkers underneath the sidewalk along Third Street, and work on improvements that follow ADA-compliance. This project includes a lane shift along Third Street, in addition to a sidewalk closer along the street between Washington Street and Bluff Street. All sidewalk construction is set to be complete by the end of July.

College Avenue will remain closed to pedestrian traffic throughout the summer as the city removes several underground pilings.

As part of the Lakeshore Boulevard Shoreline Restoration Project, a shoreline resilient to wave energy will be constructed, along with a natural dune and swale landscape behind the shoreline armoring. Pedestrian pathways and a boardwalk/overlook structure will be completed by the end of November, with the final planting being the only work left to do after November. The section of Lake Superior shoreline between Pine Street and Hawley Street will remain closed for the summer, so the public should be on the lookout for trucks traveling in and out of the construction zone.

“The remaining projects will have minimal impact [on] the community,” said City Engineer Mikael Kipela in an email to the Mining Journal.

Those remaining projects include road maintenance that will also be conducted over the summer, where manhole covers will be adjusted and cracks in city roads will be sealed. Estimated completion is by the end of September.

The Dead River Dredging and Coastal Resiliency Project, which is completely grant funded, will also finish up its final phase by September’s end, where city crews will be planting native plants along the Lake Superior shoreline at the mouth of the Dead River.

In addition to routine maintenance projects, the city will also be constructing some new features and renovating some old ones. A new one, named the “Peg Hirvonen Bandshell,” will begin construction on June 1, after the old one was decommissioned. It will be constructed where the old one was and be slightly bigger in size, with an expected completion date of November 15. Those who are interested in donating to the bandshell project can reach out to the Marquette City Band at marquettecityband.com.

The city has a land-use plan for Tourist Park that calls for a separate road for the day-use side of the park. City staff wrote and received a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land Water Conservation grant that will fund half of the project, with the other half being funded by user fees from the campground. This new road will provide access to the day-use side of the park from County Road 550 with parking near the beach. The Entrance to the campground side of the park will also be improved during this project.

Cultural projects will also be part of the city’s construction plan this summer. Sitting between Father Marquette Park and Lion’s Lakeside Park is the old Chamber of Commerce building, which will be renovated to house the Arts and Culture Division of Community Services while also serving as the trailhead for the upcoming Marquette Cultural Trail. The trail itself is made possible through funding from a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant and a Native American Heritage Fund grant, and it will provide eight interpretive sites between the Carp River and Presque Isle Park where residents and visitors can learn about the area’s cultural history. The trailhead project will improve accessibility on the property and connect both parks, while also providing an accessible connection between the parks and the city’s Multi-Use Pathway. Funding for the trailhead renovation comes from a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grant and a Michigan Economic Development RAP 2.0 grant.

“All of these projects are a result of city staff seeking outside funding and the generosity of the Marquette Community. Our goal during these challenging budget years is to improve and rebuild facilities the community desires with no tax dollars being allocated. Thanks to all who have made this goal a reality” said Jon Swenson, the city’s Director of Community Services, in an email to The Mining Journal.