Projects

For nearly two decades, the City of Walker faced the challenge of replacing and widening the Walker Avenue bridge over the Coopersville & Marne Railway. The aging concrete box beam bridge had become a critical bottleneck, with its weight restrictions making maintenance increasingly costly and replacement estimates soaring to nearly $6 million.

The bridge’s limitations extended beyond infrastructure issues; it also hindered BISSELL’s expansion plans and created significant safety hazards for vehicles, particularly semi-trucks navigating the narrow, unsafe bridge.

To address these issues, Walker devised a bold and innovative solution: removing the bridge entirely and converting the road to an at-grade crossing. This involved raising the rail grade and lowering the road grade to improve sight distance and eliminate the need for future bridge inspections and maintenance. Additionally, an overhead signal was installed to further enhance safety.

This comprehensive approach not only resolved the immediate safety concerns but also paved the way for new growth and development in the area. The project’s success enabled BISSELL to invest $6.3 million into their facility, leading to the creation of 99 new jobs. What began as a challenging infrastructure problem transformed into a catalyst for revitalization, turning the area into a safer, more accessible, and prosperous corridor for the community and businesses alike.

For over 35 years, Ludington leaders envisioned a central gathering place to invigorate downtown and celebrate local heritage. In 2007, this vision began to materialize with the closure of a one-way street, setting the stage for the creation of Legacy Plaza—a dynamic new space designed to enhance community life.

Legacy Plaza involved extensive infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to water mains, storm drainage, sewer systems, and electrical networks. The project required careful planning to seamlessly integrate these essential services beneath the site.

The new plaza features a farmers market pavilion, a raised performance stage, a restroom facility, decorative lighting, and inviting green spaces. It pays tribute to a maritime heritage with a four-color brick paver compass rose and a gas fireplace, designed in collaboration with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians to reflect Native American heritage. The design also celebrates the area’s lumbering history with timber elements and replica custom lumber stamps in the concrete.

Legacy Plaza includes sustainable features such as native rain gardens, LED lighting, and a water bottle filling station.

Legacy Plaza embodies a core value: people. Every aspect of its design is intended to enhance user experience and serve as a backdrop for a vibrant community. By revitalizing the downtown area, Legacy Plaza has become an essential gathering place and a significant asset to the Ludington community.

In 2017, rising water levels at Eagle Lake and Crooked Lake in Texas Charter Township led to severe flooding, damaging homes and infrastructure, and making it difficult for residents to secure flood insurance. By May 2018, the situation was critical, with widespread flooding causing extensive property damage and forcing costly sump pump operations.

In response, Texas Charter Township rallied residents and stakeholders to establish legal lake levels and form a special assessment district to fund necessary infrastructure improvements. Public education campaigns were launched to raise awareness about flood risks and collective action.

A key issue with the lake levels was that there was no water outlet for either lake. A temporary pumping system was designed to transfer excess water from Eagle Lake to Crooked Lake and then to Bass Lake, which drains into the Kalamazoo River, with filtration to prevent invasive species spread.

The long-term solution involves a comprehensive flood mitigation plan featuring permanent pumping stations and force main piping to regulate water flow between the lakes. Additionally, filters from the temporary system were incorporated into a permanent facility to ensure ongoing environmental protection.

The project’s success was achieved through collaboration among the township, engineering experts, regulatory agencies, and the community. Continued monitoring and public education will be essential for maintaining resilience against future flooding.