The City of Kentwood has been awarded a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Trust Fund Grant to support improvements to the Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail. This project includes the reconstruction of the trail between 44th Street and the trailhead at Wing Avenue, as well as a small section in East Paris Park.
Construction activities will involve pulverizing the existing trail surface, grading the pathway in preparation for new pavement, and completing paving and concrete installation. Additional site improvements will include new benches, refuse containers, and way-finding signage to enhance user experience along the trail.
Access/Traffic:
For public safety, this section of the trail will be closed during construction. We have provided a map of the project progress and proposed schedule for your reference. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to enhance this important pathway corridor.
P&N Engineer
Carlee Thompson
Construction Manager
218-398-0554
Jason Washler, PE
Project Manager
616-822-6790
P&N Construction Observer
Brent Newhof
616-340-4249
Contractor
Black Creek Excavating
Matt VanSpyker
616-298-1023
City of Kentwood
Brad Boomstra, Project Manager
616-554-0740
The contractor will be working on the boardwalk and bridge just north of 52nd Street. This work will require this section to be closed starting 8am on Monday morning. This work is expected to last through Friday August 8. Thank you for your continued patience.
Progress Report: This week crews finalized the paving process in East Paris Park, and worked to clean up the pathway shoulders, and construction staging areas.
Upcoming Work: There are still a few portions of concrete to install next week Monday. We expect the path to be fully open for trail users on August 1st. Thank you for your patience.Progress Report:
Thank you for your continued patience as we work to complete the pathway updates! This week the crews were hard at work installing the second course of asphalt along the trail, completing the boardwalk structural repairs, and installing root prevention measures.
Upcoming Work:
Next week the path will remain closed while the crews finish the site clean-up and final concrete work. We anticipate that the pathway will re-open at the end of the day on Friday July 25th with exception of the boardwalk and bridge just north of 52nd street. The railing materials will arrive at the end of next week for installation the following week.
Progress Report:
This week crews finished paving the first course of asphalt along the entire project including at East Paris Park. They also began the sub structure work on the boardwalk, setting new posts, installing the new joists, and installed the root prevention measures.
Upcoming Work:
Next week they will pave the top course of asphalt and pour the access drive concrete, while at the same time crews will continue to work on the boardwalk and pour the remaining concrete items.
Note:
As a continued reminder, the pathway is closed. Even if the closures are pushed aside, you are entering a construction zone. Please help us finish the project safely and continue to be mindful of the closure as we work to complete the remaining tasks on this project.
Last week Black Creek Excavating installed several segments of root prevention fabric along the paved sections of trail; they also poured several bench pad and trash receptacle pads at a few of the remaining areas. The fence repair work has been in process this week as well.
This week the contractor and subcontractors plan to begin the boardwalk substructure replacement work. They will also install and remaining root prevention and pave the base course at East Paris Park.
We appreciate your cooperation with this closure and are working to have the Trail open as soon as possible.
Progress Report:
This past week, Black Creek Excavating continued to make progress on the trail improvements. Crews installed the erosion control features at two locations along the trail and a catch basin and culvert near the new subdivision access point. They also began shoulder work between Stauffer Station and Wing Avenue.
Upcoming Work:
On Saturday, June 28, crews will be on site pouring concrete for the remaining bench pads and wayfinding signage bases.
Next week, the crews plan to begin the root prevention measures and will begin grading and compaction efforts in East Paris Park.
Progress Report:
Since the last update there has been a lot of progress made!
Black Creek Excavating and TBD Construction have pulverized the trail segments from 44th street to 60th street. They have also been working on the fencing repairs and replacing boardwalk segments.
A short section of pathway has the base course paved from 44th to Tradewinds!
Upcoming Work:
Tomorrow: Friday June 20th TBD Construction will resume the paving process from Tradewinds to 52nd Street. If weather and timing permits, they may continue farther towards 60th Street! They will also pulverize the pathway in East Paris Park on Friday June 20th.
Fencing repairs will continue next week, and Black Creek Excavating will begin working on the soil erosion measures and root prevention procedures.
Extra Notes:
Please note, the trail is closed for your safety! There are several vehicles, construction equipment and large haul trucks accessing the trail with very limited ability to navigate around pedestrians.
We appreciate your patience and attention to this closure as we work to re-open the trail as soon as possible. Thank you.
Progress Report:
Black Creek Excavating began the week by completing SESC (Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control) installation on Monday morning. The remainder of the week was focused on preparing various areas for the installation of concrete pads for benches, wayfinding signs, and trash receptacles. Crews also began work on the pedestrian bridge north of 52nd Street, removing the existing concrete pavement and installing sock pipe underdrain. On Friday afternoon, several concrete pads for benches and trash receptacles were poured between 44th Street and Tradewinds Drive.
Upcoming Work:
Starting Wednesday, the team plans to pulverize the existing pathway as part of surface reconstruction efforts. Crews will continue preparing concrete areas for wayfinding sign installations and plan to pour additional concrete pads throughout the week as weather and site conditions allow.
Progress Report:
This week Black Creek Excavating began their work on the Paul Henry Trail. They have been installing silt fence along the pathway in preparation for removal work to begin next week.
The pathway is now closed at all access points. For your safety and the safety of our crews please note this closure as we work to enhance the trail and create a better riding surface for all!
Upcoming Work:
Next week the contractor will begin removing the existing benches, trash receptacles, and concrete pads.
Construction is scheduled to start on May 28. The project includes three distinct areas that work will occur – Kalamazoo Avenue to 52nd Street, 52nd Street to Wing Avenue and East Paris Park. Initial work items that will start on May 28 include removals, fence repairs, boardwalk repairs, storm improvements and some minor excavation from Kalamazoo Avenue to Wing Avenue. The trail will be closed to the public starting May 28.
Dependent on progress and weather, the contractor is intending to extend the initial work area to East Paris Park on June 9. Also starting June 9, the existing asphalt surface will be removed on the trail the entire length of the project.
The contractor is expecting to be done with the project near the end of June. Stay tuned to this webpage for future updates on anticipated work items and status of the trail.
