Work to replace the bridge and entire one-mile walking track at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center  is set to start March 24. The project, which is expected to be complete by mid-summer, will require intermittent road and track closures.

Construction will start with removal of the iconic but deteriorating bridge over Civic Center Drive (pictured).  GT County Parks and Recreation originally considered taking out the bridge and making the track grade level, but doing so would have made the project significantly more expensive, required the removal of numerous trees, and created a conflict point between vehicles and pedestrians. Parks and Faciltiies Director John Chase previously said many park users also like having varying terrain on the walking track as a fitness challenge.

The bridge removal will require closing the road for at least one day, possibly two. After the bridge is removed, crews will begin working on the abutments and wing walls that will support the new bridge.  Officials are expecting the new bridge to arrive sometime in May, with installation to occur in June. After installation, a new concrete deck will be poured. Crews will be completing additional work on the bridge before it opens. The bridge is expected to be unavailable from March 24 through mid-June.  The road will be available during that time with only brief closures to accommodate removal and installation. 

Work on the walking track, which is three decades old, will begin once there is snow-free ground. Initial work will focus on the installation of a new soft running path parallel to the walking track. This path will be three feet wide and composed of fine crushed gravel. The track will see intermittent closures during this time to accommodate heavy equipment. Following the soft path installation, crews will pulverize the existing track surface, prep that surface with gravel, and overlay a new course of asphalt. The process is estimated to take two weeks and will require closure of the track. 

The last portion of the project includes grading and paving of the gravel parking lot at the southwest corner of the Civic Center that serves the amphitheater and pavilion, along with adding connecting pathways and a crosswalk. Sevent fitness stations will also be added along the walking track. Substantial completion of the project is expected by June 27, with full completion by July 25.

The project is funded primarily through a Michigan Spark grant for $998,800, along with support from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Traverse City Track Club. The total project cost is approximately $1.1 million. AJ’s Excavating LLC is the contractor for the project.

County commissioners last week also approved a $148,500 contract with Hurst Inc. to replace two dehumidifiers at Howe Arena. Work is expected to take place in the arena between mid-March and July 15. Chase said the units are located in the ceiling on either end of the arena and won't affect anything happening in the middle arena area itself, ensuring active rentals aren't interrupted.