Major projects have begun on Longbridge Road and Pentwater Channel this week. The Oceana County Road Commission’s (OCRC) project to repair the pedestrian paths on both sides of the bridge over the south end of Pentwater Lake began on Monday, June 8. It involves replacing the understructure supporting the grated panels of the walkway and will take most of the summer to complete. Motor vehicle traffic will be limited to the use of one lane between Monroe Road and Wayne Road for the duration of the project. An automated light system, operating 24/7, will stop traffic alternately on each side of the bridge for approximately 2-3 minutes to permit crossing the bridge in one direction at a time.
OCRC Managing Director Mark Timmer reports that the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) announced that the dredging at Pentwater Harbor would start on June 9 with an expectation of being completed at the end of the month. USACE Public Affairs Specialist Brandon Hubbard asserts, “These operations are essential to maintain safe navigational depths within the harbor and support ongoing marine traffic and port activities."
The area to be dredged is the harbor entrance in Lake Michigan and between the breakwater heads. The sand that is removed will be transported through a submerged pipeline and discharged on the south side of the breakwater in 4-8 feet of water. The USACE has tested several samples of the dredge material to confirm its safety and suitability for adding to the beach.
Boaters are asked to navigate with caution near the dredging equipment. The submerged pipeline will be marked with orange buoys every 500 feet and a bright yellow, lit pontoon at each end.
