IOHT improvements started
This photo shows the amount of room the trail extension in Chocolay Township will be given. (Photo courtesy of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Association)
This is the area of Chocolay Township the extended trail will occupy. (Photo courtesy of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Association)
This photo shows the amount of room the trail extension in Chocolay Township will be given. (Photo courtesy of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Association)
This is the area of Chocolay Township the extended trail will occupy. (Photo courtesy of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Association)
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MARQUETTE -- Work started Monday on a project that will see significant improvement to a stretch of a local trail system popular with residents and visitors alike.
Construction on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail’s 4.3-mile Lakenenland Extension is scheduled to be complete by Sept. 14, according to IOHRA Trail Administrator Bob Hendrickson. The portion of trail at issue, he said, is presently unimproved, long abandoned railroad grade. A combination of state and local money will change that.
“Overall, (the project) will cost in about $450,000,” said Hendrickson. Of that amount, $300,000 is in the form of a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources while another $100,000 comes from the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates, promotes and helps build a connected system of non-motorized trails and greenways across Michigan. The Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority is also contributing to the project’s bottom line with a $50,000 allowance.
Hendrickson said the project will improve the existing multi-use trail corridor from the current trail terminus at Kawbawgam Road to Lakenenland Sculpture Park. Work includes upgrading the existing railbed and installing a new crushed aggregate trail surface that matches the existing Iron Ore Heritage Trail in Chocolay Township.
Upon completion, this section will remain open to both motorized and non-motorized users, providing a safer and more enjoyable trail experience for all. The project will also include an ADA-accessible parking area, bicycle rack, and interpretive panels highlighting the area’s natural features and cultural history at the Lakenenland trailhead.
“This (project) has been a long-standing goal of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority,” said Hendrickson said. “Connecting the trail to Lakenenland expands access to one of Marquette County’s unique destinations while enhancing recreation, tourism and outdoor opportunities throughout the region.”
Susan Estler, executive director of Travel Marquette, the official non-profit destination marketing organization for Marquette County, agreed. Travel Marquette promotes the region as a year-round travel spot, focusing on outdoor recreation, local businesses, sustainable tourism and cultural events.
"Any enhancement to our ... (trail network) is a benefit to visitors and residents," she said.
For the safety of trail users and construction crews, the public is asked to respect all posted construction zones, follow any temporary closures or detours, and use caution when traveling near active work areas.