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DNR rebuilding rail trail

Recreation enthusiasts will have an old favorite back to its normal self by the end of summer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has begun rebuilding the rail trail between Old US-41 in Chassell and the Pilgrim River in Houghton. The work will be extensive, with over a dozen culverts being replaced. Additionally, several bridges are being rebuilt.

Upper Peninsula Trails Coordinator Ron Yesney says the project is possible thanks to funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, based on a study completed by UP Architects and Engineers in 2019. A couple of additional problems have been discovered since, that the DNR is attempting to include in the work.

So between the time the engineering analysis and the FEMA scope of work was done, there were a couple more culvert failures that we’re gonna try to add to the construction project.

Yesney says the rail trail is the DNR’s major project for 2021. The Freda grade and Lake Linden grade are also in need of repairs, set for studies this summer.

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