Marquette is among several Michigan counties receiving federal transportation grants to improve the state’s infrastructure for non-motorized as well as motorized traffic.
"These projects will enhance accessibility and safety and make infrastructure improvements that help to make communities more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses," says State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "MDOT is pleased to assist communities in making investments that will have positive, long-term effects."
The Marquette County project consists of the construction of about a half-mile of non-motorized pathway crossing M-553 to Grove Street in the city of Marquette. The pathway will connect the existing city network of trails to more trails to the south, and connect to a future phase of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, which is a non-motorized trail system running across the central northern U.P. currently.
The improvements also will benefit Marquette school students, who travel in the area to and from elementary and middle school. The project is also meant to improve safety for those students.
Its total cost is $213,557, and $170,845 of that is the federal transportation enhancement funds. Another $27,712 is coming from MDOT, and the remaining $15,000 is from the city of Marquette.
The other counties receiving grants are Ingham, Lenawee, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation
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