As the Berrien County Road Department continues reconstructing Red Arrow Highway in the coming years, new sections of road will come with new sections of roadside trail.
The Red Arrow Linear Trail currently can be seen along the side of Red Arrow Highway in southern Berrien County, particularly in New Buffalo and Chikaming townships, but they’re not planning to stop. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Marcy Hamilton tells us the ultimate goal for the trail is ambitious.
“We’re working all the way up the coast to try to get this trail done,” Hamilton. “We’re also working from New Buffalo to Chicago on the Marquette Greenway. So we’re looking at connecting communities and connecting areas with this wonderful trail along it.”
Berrien County Road Department engineer Kevin Stack says some people complain about the road losing lanes and the trail appearing, but he’s found they appreciate it once it’s finished.
“If you build that, they will come,” Stack said. “I mean, it’s amazing to go down to South County right now and you can go down there any day of the week and see several people walking that trail, moving left, right, cross Red Arrow safely, no issues, families pushing strollers. We’re getting a very, very much positive review out of that.”
The trail project has been largely funded with federal and state dollars, although maintenance of different sections of the trail will fall to the townships it passes through. Hamilton says that’s just becoming part of their parks departments.
This year’s Red Arrow Highway work, between Bridgman and the Cook plant, doesn’t involve new trail construction. However, next year’s Red Arrow Highway work, from the Cook plant to Stevensville, will see Bridgman and Stevensville connected via trail. Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has hired an engineer to design the trail through Warren Dunes State Park to Floral Lane.
Hamilton says when all is done, communities throughout the region will be connected by trail.
