Bridging Mill Creek: the Dexter Connection
We are excited to share that construction on the next segment of the Border to Border (B2B) Trail kicks off this spring: the Dexter Connection. This 0.7-mile project is located on the west side of Dexter, starting at the Miller-Smith Preserve (Parker at Dexter-Chelsea Rd) and heading east. It crosses Dexter-Chelsea Road with flashing beacons and then goes cross-country, eventually connecting to Mill Creek Park near the end of Grand St (see map). One of the most exciting parts of this project is the new Mill Creek crossing, which will feature the restored historic Bell Road Bridge as the highlight of a new 364-foot, four-span structure (see rendering).
The Bell Road Bridge has a long history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was taken out of service in 1997. Restoring it for road traffic wasn’t feasible and after its removal, it sat on the banks of the Huron River for many years, its future uncertain—until the B2B Trail team saw an opportunity. By bringing it into the city as part of the trail, we’re able to give new life to a remarkable piece of local history with ties to Dexter’s founder.
Judge Samuel Dexter, the city’s namesake, helped establish a sawmill and gristmill at the hamlet of Dover, north of Dexter. By the mid-1800s, Dover Mills was a growing community with a timber bridge over the Huron River at what is now Bell Road (between Huron River Drive and Dexter-Pinckney Rd). That timber bridge was replaced in 1891 by the metal Bell Road Bridge we know today. The bridge is 103 feet long, built from wrought iron (not steel), and uses a Pratt Through Truss design—essentially a big, pin-connected Erector Set. It’s one of the oldest bridges of its kind in Michigan and has siblings at the Delhi and Maple-Foster crossings 1 2.
To prepare the bridge for its new role, we’re working with historic bridge specialists based in St. Johns, Michigan. They’ll restore and repaint the structure, add a timber deck, and install railings to make it ready for trail users. Since the Mill Creek floodplain is more than 350 feet wide and the bridge only 103 feet long, three new “tail spans” made from modern steel beams will be added to complete the full crossing—while still keeping the historic bridge front and center.
Once this segment is complete, only one gap will remain between Dexter and Chelsea: the 1.4-mile stretch between Dancer and Lima Center roads. We expect to begin more detailed public engagement on that final section later this year.
This project is a partnership between the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission (WCPARC), the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative (HWPI), and the City of Dexter. We expect the trail to open to users in late 2026, with a bit of finishing work continuing into early 2027. As construction moves forward, you can follow updates at B2Btrail.org.
Sources and Further Reading about the Bell Road Bridge:
https://aadl.org/aaobserver/19809 Retrieved April, 20, 2026
2 https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=truss/bell/ Retrieved April, 20, 2026
