Major Milestone – Docs Submitted for New Trail Construction

HWPI’s effort to get the B2B Chelsea-Lakelands Connector Phase One new trail construction underway passed a major milestone this week. The final submission of documents to MDOT was completed, including the legal agreements, design specs, easements, and environmental permits necessary to begin construction.

Design of this new 2.6 mile segment of paved trail has been underway for 16 months, at an engineering cost of about $265,000, funded by private donations to HWPI. This new trail segment will start at the new M52-Werkner Road roundabout, travel north along the west side of M52, and reach the Green Lake campground entrance, including a connector to the DTE Energy Foundation Trail. This new trail segment will be built entirely on state land, using road easement and MDNR property in the Waterloo State Recreation Area.

Construction of this trail will be directed by MDOT, with support from the Washtenaw County Road Commission. The completed trail will be operated and maintained by the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission as part of the Border-2-Border Trail system.

Next, MDOT will place the project for Bid, which should take place in 8 to 10 weeks. Weather dependent, construction should begin either later this fall or early spring of 2018. HWPI and our partners are confident this trail section will be open for use by midsummer, 2018.

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