Bruce Martinson, wearing a white coat and glasses in the middle, took part in the Gitchi Gami trail ribbon-cutting ceremony. Ginny Storlie is second to the end on the right.
A 2.5-mile segment of the Gitchi Gami trail more than five years in the planning is finally finished.
The new section starts .8 mile east of the Beaver River on the West Road, travels inland and ends in Silver Bay next to the Silver Bay hockey arena.
When the entire route is completed it will be an 89-mile non-motorized trail stretching from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, 45 miles in Lake County and 44 miles in Cook County.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 24, with Cook County Commissioner Ginny Storlie and former Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson joining a throng of Lake County public officials and other groups who helped with the project.
Some history
In 2013-14, the Arrowhead Regional Development Council (ARDC) and the North Shore Scenic Drive Council (NSSDC) partnered to secure a Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program grant to lead a wayside design project for the Caribou Falls site. The resulting work from the design process was used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a basis to secure Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant funds to support 75 percent of the costs of construction, said Justin Otsea, NSSDC Executive Director.
“The new site focused on improving safety (added right turn lane, and area for large vehicles to park and/or turn around), erosion concerns (bank stabilization and storm water management system put in place to help negate run-off into the river), and also improves accessibility (ADA compliant trail to multiple viewing/ picnic areas) for users of all mobility levels,” added Otsea.
Martinson, who is also the vice chair of the Gitchi Gami Trail Association, said a few words at the ceremony.
“A new memorandum of understanding was signed in November 2013 having three new partners sign the memorandum,” Martinson said. “The work was paid with $5,000 contributed by both Lake and Cook counties.
“The partners in the memorandum of understanding are the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT), Gitchi-Gami Trail Association, Cook County, Lake County and the Arrowhead Regional Development Council (ARDC). Individual legislators have to also be acknowledged for their support in funding segments of the trail. These would include Senator Tom Bakk and Representative Rob Eklund.
“The Beaver Bay Township Board was an important partner in this project. The DNR negotiated with the board on a plan for paving the West Road. The DNR made a cooperative commitment to address the cost, maintenance, and repair of shared road, trail, and 10 culverts. I would like to thank the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission for their partnership in the last five years providing the services of Michelle Pierson. I am convinced we would not be as far along today without the ARDC,” said Martinson.
“With 30.2 miles of the Gitchi Gami Trail completed in both counties and 59 miles remaining to be planned, engineered, funded and constructed, let us continue to work together as partners to finish the trail in both Lake and Cook counties,” Martinson said.
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