Rail trail work ‘proceeding at a steady pace’

A view along the trail last fall near Hart.

GRANT TWP. — Work on Stage One of the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail is “proceeding at a steady pace,” according to Michigan Department of Transportation Assistant Construction Engineer Leo A. Evans.

“By the end of the day today (July 22), the trail from Montague to Rothbury should have the base course of asphalt in place for the entire six miles. Once the base course is completed, there will be approximately two weeks of work remaining to grade the side slopes; pave the top course; install the ADA dimples at the street crossings; install signage; etc. before Stage One of the trail is reopened.

“Tentatively, we are planning to reopen Stage One of the trail the week of Aug. 10,” Evans states. “After Stage One work is completed, we will be progressing to Stage Three (Shelby to Hart) due to a delay in the delivery of critical materials needed for the completion of Stage Two (Rothbury to Shelby).

“Stage Three work is expected to start on Aug. 10 and take approximately four to six weeks to complete,” Evans states. “Stage Two would then be starting in late September and continuing through October.

“Prior to beginning full work on Stage Three, we will need to close the trail to apply herbicide treatment to the edges. This work is planned for tomorrow (Thursday, July 23).  During the herbicide application, the trail will be closed for use.  It will be reopened once the herbicide has dried and notices of the herbicide application will be posted throughout the sprayed area.  The trail will then remain open until Stage One is open and major work operations shift to Stage Three (tentatively Aug. 10).”