State of Michigan paves the way for Musketawa and Lakeshore bike trails connector

The state of Michigan has acquired the land needed to connect two popular bike and walking trails between Marne and Muskegon. Proponents say the connection brings metro Grand Rapids to the lakeshore through recreational transportation.

According to excerpts from the story:

Two popular paved bike trails finally will be connected, allowing bicyclists and other users more areas to roam and bringing Muskegon’s shoreline into reach to more people. After more than five years of trying to acquire the necessary railroad corridor to make the connection possible, state trail planners secured a deal to purchase the land for the connection between the city of Muskegon’s Lakeshore Trail and the state’s Musketawa Trail. The Natural Resources Commission approved the purchase last week. City and state officials expect construction on the connecting pathway to take place in the spring and recreational users to begin using the new stretch in June or July. The connecting pathway will extend from Muskegon to m Keating Avenue to the south along U.S. 31 before heading east along an inactive railroad bed to Black Creek Road, the western edge of the Musketawa Trail. With the two trails connected, more bicyclists and other trail users will be able to reach Muskegon from the east.

Read the complete story here.