×

Bi-path collapses over weekend

ALPENA — City of Alpena engineering, Department of Public Works and building officials were busy assessing damage and considering repair options for a 480 foot portion of bi-path which collapsed over the weekend. There also are sections of the boardwalk that have buckled and repairs are likely too.

The structural failure has caused the closure of the park indefinitely and repairs could take until spring. The damage and repairs also will likely push construction of the new dog park until next year.

City Engineer Rich Sullenger said he will have a better indication on how extensive the damage is and what measures need to be taken to correct them after better assessing the damage. He said a stretch of the boardwalk, which has buckled will need to be removed to get a better view of what the conditions are beneath it and then a plan for repairs can be made. Sullenger said it is too early to know exactly how much repairs could cost the city, but he said it could be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Sullenger said the bi-path near the park was installed12 years ago when water levels were much lower than they are today. The design for the bi-path and boardwalk were approved by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as well as Army Corps of Engineers. He said the failure of the property was not a design flaw, or a result of the work by the contractors who were hired to do the construction work.

Sullenger said water levels rose and wave action against the protective rip-rap, which helped to shield water from penetrating the back wall that helps to secure the bi-path. He said over the years water had washed away the sand and gravel holding the protective boulders in place until it penetrated the ground under the bi-path and it caved in.

“Once that rip-rap fell away, and without that there, the water eroded the soil underneath and the entire things settled after it had washed out,” he said.

The city has closed the park, but the parking lot and boat launch will remain open, Sullenger said, and residents are asked to avoid the area.

“Right now we’re working on everything, removing the deck boards, so we can further evaluate what further action plan we need to do,” Sullenger said. “We have been in contact with the DEQ and the Army Corps to make sure we are still covered in our permit to do maintenance activities, but right now I don’t know what we’re all going to have to do.”

If the cost of the repairs is as high as projected, Sullenger said the money to pay for them likely will come from the fund balance. He said there is only one large project remaining this year and early next year, but it is one he is unwilling to cut to help cover the cost of the bi-path repairs.

“We have money committed to the splash park, so we are committed to that and I’m not going to push that back,” Sullenger said. “Once we know more about the cost we’ll determine where we’ll get the money, but I anticipate it will be from the fund balance.”

Sullenger said there was no indication a collapse was imminent, or preventive actions would have been taken. He said now the focus must be fixing the problem and making sure it doesn’t happen again.

“We are going to make an action plan and get bids out so we can get this fixed as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m operating under the city manager’s emergency powers which authorizes me to do what is necessary to get it stabilized and safe. Once we achieve that we’ll go into our normal purchasing policy.”

People are urged to avoid the park area, as there will be construction activity.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today