The Iron Ore Heritage Trail will stretch 4.3 miles farther east by mid-September, connecting Kawbawgam Road to Lakenenland Sculpture Park in Chocolay Township.
Construction crews began laying crushed aggregate over the upgraded railbed in August, with surface work continuing through the month, according to a press release issued Thursday, Aug. 20, by the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority. An ADA-accessible parking pad at the Lakenenland trailhead is scheduled for the first week of September, followed by final vegetation work and site remediation the week of Monday, Sept. 14.
The trail stays open during construction.
The extension will also add a bicycle rack and interpretive panels about the corridor's natural features and cultural history.
Trail administrator Bob Hendrickson told WLUC TV6 on Aug. 3, when construction began: "We're going to have an additional parking pad at Lakenenland, so if somebody wanted to go out there and park and come this way, they do that. We'll also be adding some interpretive signs about the local culture, history and also the ecology in this area."
The project is funded through a $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant and a $100,000 Michigan Trails Fund grant, with additional dollars from the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority. The authority has not confirmed a total project cost.
Crews are adding extra gravel in sandier stretches before capping the surface with crushed aggregate to match the existing trail through Chocolay Township. The corridor will remain open to both motorized and non-motorized users after construction wraps.
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail currently spans 47 miles across the Marquette Iron Range. Lakenenland Sculpture Park, about 15 miles east of Marquette, features free-admission metal sculptures by artist Tom Lakenen.
The authority asks trail users to respect posted construction zones, follow temporary closures or detours and use caution near active work areas. Project updates are available at ironoreheritage.com.
Upcoming dates:
- First week of September — ADA-accessible parking pad construction begins at Lakenenland trailhead
- Week of Monday, Sept. 14 — Final vegetation work, site remediation and expected project completion
