From: Subject: Macomb trail coming together | detnews.com | The Detroit News Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 12:04:41 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CB024B.C840E510" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CB024B.C840E510 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://detnews.com/article/20100601/METRO03/6010342/-1/ARCHIVE/Macomb-trail-coming-together Macomb trail coming together | detnews.com | The = Detroit News tyntVariables =3D {"ap":"From The Detroit = News:"};
=20
=20
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Read = Comments
  • Text Size:
  • 3D"Small
  • 3D"Normal
  • 3D"Large
    • Share
Last Updated: June = 01. 2010=20 7:32AM

Macomb trail coming together

More work will start to connect 70-mile loop

Candice Williams / The Detroit News

Harrison Township -- Plans for a 70-mile trail loop in Macomb = County=20 are moving forward with construction set to begin in Utica this month = and=20 Harrison Township later this summer.

Some 44 miles of the loop already are complete in pieces throughout = the=20 county. When complete, the trail could take bikers, runners and walkers = through=20 16 communities -- from Harrison Township west to Sterling Heights, north = to=20 Romeo, east to Richmond and south to Harrison Township again.

"It really adds to quality of life," said Keith McCormack of Hubbell, = Roth=20 & Clark, the engineer for the Utica project. "It turns out to be an=20 attractive feature in a neighborhood and a good way for exercise." =

Advertisement

In Utica, crews will extend the trail at Heritage Park west of Van = Dyke and=20 south of Hall Road, McCormack said. The project includes another = half-mile of=20 trail and a 230-foot pedestrian bridge.

In Harrison Township, two trail extensions will start this summer and = be=20 complete by the end of the year, said Supervisor Anthony Forlini. One is = about a=20 quarter-mile-long extension along Jefferson between 16 Mile and South = River Road=20 and the other a mile extension between the Bridgeview Bridge to South = River=20 Road.

"People can safely travel on Jefferson without having to walk on the = main=20 road," Forlini said.

The remaining 36 miles in the loop will cost about $450,000 per mile, = or=20 $16.2 million, said John Crumm, program manager of planning and = environmental=20 services for Macomb County. The county has received $14 million in = federal,=20 state and nonprofit grants toward the effort, he said.

Projects in Mount Clemens, New Baltimore and a connector between = Shelby=20 Township and Utica are scheduled for next year. Plans are to have the = 70-mile=20 loop complete by 2012, Crumm said.

Harrison Township resident Jennifer Hoffman said she's pleased the = trails are=20 being extended. It's safer for her family to bike on the trail rather in = the=20 road, she said.

Having a continuous trail loop will encourage tourism in the county, = said=20 Nancy Krupiarz, executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenway = Alliance.=20

The state is also working on a 232-mile stretch of continuous trails = that=20 would include the Macomb Orchard Trail in Romeo.

"I think (people) will come from other counties," she said. "With it = being=20 connected, it becomes a much bigger destination that way."

cwilliams@detnews.com = (586)=20 468-0529

  • Article Tools:
  • Print
  • Emai= l
  • Comment
  • Read = Comments
  • Sh= are

Most Popular News Stories

    • How=20 Congress spent your money
    • Lidstrom= will=20 return to Wings
    • Hidden=20 benefit gives veterans cash
    • Lake=20 turbine plan hits rough seas
    • Lidstrom=20 will return to Wings
    • Why=20 the Tigers had to release Dontrelle Willis
    • Lidstrom=20 signing gives Wings some flexibility
    • Warranty = claims=20 fall for Big 3
    • Snyder,=20 Bernero lead in governor race, poll shows
    • Warranty=20 claims fall for Big 3

    Most Popular

    • Teachers' generous benefits under fire
    • Hooters to react to ex-waitress' lawsuit
    • Price for Roy Oswalt or Cliff Lee is too high for = Tigers=20
    • Mix of=20 Detroit brawn, Italian flair rev lineups
    • Tigers trade Dontrelle Willis to Diamondbacks
    • Lions get golf lessons along with a little humility =
    • Why=20 the Tigers had to trade Dontrelle Willis
    • Bloomfield Hills pupil, 9, suspended for bringing = loaded gun to=20 school
    • Metro=20 Detroit faces stormy weather all day long
    • Mich. revival requires major cultural shift =
    (updated=20 hourly. Rankings as of 12 pm)
    Sponsored=20 by

    Most Popular

    =A9 Copyright 2010 The Detroit News. All rights reserved.

    • Terms=20 of Service
    • Contact
    • Help