Ontonagon to Rockland Rail Grade Work Begins

MI-TRALE is announcing that work to prepare the Ontonagon to Rockland (OR) rail grade for recreational use will begin on June 29^th with the initial grading and then on July 12^th the major milling will be started.  Angelo Luppino, Inc., was awarded the contract to reclaim 12.3 miles of the abandoned rail grade to form a stabilized base for a multi-use recreational trail. The project consists of pulverizing/milling the in-place ballast and underlying material, spreading the material once pulverized, adding water as required, then shaping and compacting the resulting mixture to DNR recreational trail specifications.

The rail grade will be closed to all recreational users during the work, which is scheduled to be completed by August 19, 2017. Don Helsel of MI-TRALE stated “MI-TRALE looks forward to completing this project so that this section of trail connecting the villages of Ontonagon and Rockland can be opened and be able to support our multi-use recreational users.” Helsel further stated “As soon as construction is completed and approved by the DNR, MI-TRALE will be installing the required trail signage so that this trail can be opened for ORV and snowmobile use”

MI-TRALE would like to thank the DNR for approving the grant request to fund this project with ORV license revenue, and the local units of government (Ontonagon & Rockland) for their ongoing support of the project.