City of Marquette discusses truck routes

The Marquette City Commission held a work session Tuesday morning with representatives from Lundin Mining to discuss the future of trucking routes in the city of Marquette.

The unavoidable increase in truck traffic and the continued push for safety of pedestrians and other drivers in Marquette was at the heart of the discussion. When County Road 595 was eliminated as an option for a trucking route earlier this year, it set the table for the city of Marquette to see more truck traffic than it desires. Lundin Mining, who took control of the Eagle Mine last month, is working with the County Road Commission to improve roads such as County Road 550 and wants to work with the city as well.

“The city of Marquette who has also expressed some concerns especially for traffic flow, safety of residents, safety of Northern Michigan University students crossing the road,” says Eagle Mine Manger of External Affairs Matt Johnson. “We would like to work with the city help fund and pay for a portion of those improvements that are needed.”

“It’s inevitable right now on a temporary basis because we really have not in anyway given up an alternative route around the city of Marquette,” explained City Commissioner Mike Coyne. “We have to work with our neighbors, our surrounding townships so they and us can work together to try to get something that’s acceptable to everybody, including a partnership with the mine.”

Commissioners did express support to form a small committee that would meet with the City Manager and Lundin officials to discuss future road plans. The issue could be put on the agenda for next Monday when the commission is scheduled to hold its next formal meeting.