DNR closes section of snowmobile trail in Marquette County for bridge repair

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has closed a bridge along Trail No. 8 in Marquette County for repairs, shutting down a section of the main east-west snowmobile connector route in the Upper Peninsula.

“A major support beam has been cracked on the underside of the wooden bridge that needs to be replaced,” said Ron Yesney, DNR Upper Peninsula trails coordinator in Marquette. “Unfortunately, this forces us to close the trail between Champion and the Baraga Plains to through traffic.”

Alternative routes are available to the north (Trail No. 5 to Trail No. 14) or south (Trail No. 5 to Trail No. 18).

The bridge is located northwest of Champion, not far from Van Riper State Park.

“Access to Michigamme, Nestoria and Three Lakes will be possible from the west, but not the east,” Yesney said.

The DNR and the Moose Country Snowmobile Club are working on bridge repairs. Engineering is underway. The DNR plans to reopen the bridge in mid-January.