(MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI.)–The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has re-opened a bridge along Trail No. 8 in Marquette County, clearing travel along a section of the main east-west snowmobile connector route in the Upper Peninsula. The DNR closed the bridge in mid-December after discovering a major support beam had been cracked on the underside of a wooden trail bridge that needed to be replaced. “We are very pleased to be re-opening this bridge,” said Rob Katona, DNR central Upper Peninsula trails specialist in Marquette. “This positive development comes just as we’re getting a blast of wintry weather, which should make trail conditions good for snowmobiling.” The bridge is located northwest of Champion, along the former Clowry railroad grade, not far from Van Riper State Park. DNR staffers and the Moose Country Snowmobile Club worked to coordinate the bridge repairs. Engineering was completed by OHM-Advisors of Hancock. The contractor on the job was John Coponen Construction of Atlantic Mine. Check for the latest information on the status of DNR closures at www.michigan.gov/dnrclosures. For more information on Michigan snowmobiling visit www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling.
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com