Pedestrian Paths
“The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.”
– John Howard
Bicycles have been around for roughly 200 years, and they still remain as popular as ever. While we may not use bicycles as a main method of transportation here in Michigan, they are widely used for exercise and recreation. With the growing green initiative in our country, we can be assured bicycle use will only increase; therefore, the need for pedestrian paths will as well.
BMJ Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. has designed many of our local area paths. These paths are built in many different landscapes – through meadows, forests, farmland, parks, and on old railroad beds. They accommodate all sorts of recreational uses – walking, bicycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, and some even allow for horseback riding. Many communities are embracing paths to create more walkable areas.
Wadhams to Avoca Trail
The Wadhams to Avoca Trail is a 12 mile recreational trail. The trail has been constructed on a historic CSX rail line that begins in Avoca and ends at Griswold Street in Kimball Township. This is a multi-use path utilized by walkers, bicyclists, equestrians, and rollerbladers. Design on this trail started in 1995 and continues today. The trail’s main attraction is a 640-foot long, 60-foot high rail trestle over the Mill Creek. A deck and rails were added to the trestle for safe passage, as well as four lookouts that capture the beautiful views of the valley. This part paved/part gravel trail has become a popular attraction spot in the county.
BMJ provided the design engineering and construction engineering services for the trail. The project was designed utilizing geometric standards set forth in the “AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities” and "A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets”. Design included providing for maintenance of local drainage patterns. The Griswold Extension Phase of the trail was funded through MDOT and required the MDOT formatting and procedures. Cost estimates and construction management were provided using MERL and FieldManager software. MDOT construction management procedures were followed on the Griswold Extension Phase.
Burtchville Township Bicycle Path Phases I and III
The Burtchville Township Bicycle Path is a 3 mile path starting from the Burtchville Township Hall on Burtch Road, traveling south along State Road and then winding through private country settings and forested wetlands, ending at Metcalf Road. BMJ provided the design engineering for both phases and the construction engineering for the first phase. Both projects were funded and bid through MDOT and designed utilizing geometric standards set forth in the “AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities” and the “AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets”. Design included providing for maintenance of local drainage patterns, culvert crossings, and wetland crossings. Cost opinions and construction management were provided using MERL and FieldManager software. MDOT construction management procedures and software were used on the first phase.
Fort Gratiot Township Bicycle Path, Phases I, II and North Connector
This pedestrian path in Fort Gratiot Township begins at Keewahdin Road east of State Road. The path travels within private easements through peaceful country landscapes and forested areas to and around a pond within a conservation easement. A connector path heads east to Lakeshore Road then south along Lakeshore where the path provides access to many area businesses and ends at the Keewahdin/Lakeshore intersection. The total path length of the first two phases is just over 3 ½ miles. The North Connector pedestrian path is currently in design. This section is to continue the Burtchville Path on the south side of Metcalf and end at the Fort Gratiot County Park. All phases of the Fort Gratiot Bicycle path have been funded through MDOT and designed utilizing geometric standards set forth in the “AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities” and the “AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets”. Design included providing for maintenance of local drainage patterns, wetland, and watercourse crossings. Cost opinions and construction management were provided using MERL and FieldManager software. MDOT construction management procedures were followed on Phase II.
City of St. Clair and St. Clair Township Bike Path – Phases I and II
The path is an extension of the St. Clair County Bridge-to-Bay Trail. The project was St. Clair Township’s first effort and the City of St. Clair’s remaining portion of the St. Clair County wide community project. The 1.3 mile section of the path begins in the City of St. Clair along Carney Drive near the Range Road intersection. It continues easterly toward Jordan Creek, where it then turns northerly on an off road route, through a meadow and forested area, along the banks of the Jordan Creek, then northerly along the east property line of the St. Clair Middle School, to its terminus at Yankee Road, near the intersection with Pug Road.
Establishing the route was no small endeavor as it required, in addition to the City and the Township, the cooperation of multiple public entities including: St. Clair County Road Commission, St. Clair County Drain Office, St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Department, East China School District, as well as several private landowners. There were many route/layout alternatives considered during the design process. In the end, the goals of closing a necessary link of the Bridge-to-Bay Trail, providing a safe route to the St. Clair Middle School for neighborhood students, while at the same time providing scenic views and remaining environmentally conscious were achieved.
As a subsequent phase of this project, both the City and Township installed park benches periodically along the path and multiple new tree plantings.
Funding for the project was made possible through the Federal Highways Administration as administered through the Michigan Department of Transportation Local Agency Program, St. Clair County Road Commission, City of St. Clair, St. Clair Township, and the St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Department.
