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The Keweenaw ATV Club presented on the repairs needed along the Lake Linden motorized trail Monday night, and they are extensive. Funding for the work is part of the Department of Natural Resources budget for the current fiscal year and the hope is that crews can begin by midsummer. Bids cannot be put out until the all specifications have been approved by the DNR. OHM is assisting and the project is now in the final design phase.
With the amount of fixes required, it may not be ready for snowmobile season in full. The Fathers Day Flood ravaged the network that follows the Portage Canal and Torch Lake from Hancock to Lake Linden, near M-26. There are roughly 200 sites in total to maintain and only 24 are in acceptable condition today. Of the remaining, 17 have to be fixed immediately. Seventy-two culverts and box culverts need repair work and another 30 have to be replaced entirely. Washouts have affected another 33 sites. Given the scope of the work, there will be some route modifications, including five new transitions and nine new sites added. That will ensure the route is along DNR property only, and not utilizing MDOT land as it once did. The work will be completed by two crews along the Copper Range grade and Calumet and Hecla grade west of M-26, mostly from Dollar Bay north.
The project is being bid out in 6 sections, so each contract is cheaper allowing more firms to take part in the project. and prevent its monopolization. The DNR hopes that will reduce the overall cost for taxpayers.
