Home    News    May 2005 News

News from the Keweenaw Peninsula May 7, 2005   Text and photos © 2005 Michele Anderson.

Hancock residents concerned about walkability

By Michele Anderson

HANCOCK -- Local residents would like to see better pedestrian access to the Portage Lift Bridge, concerned citizens told Hancock City Council members at their recent meeting.

Hancock resident Merle Kindred addressed the Council, noting the difficulty of accessing the bridge on foot from the Ramada Inn in Hancock. She said visitors staying at the Ramada often have a hard time climbing a steep hill which is apparently the only access for pedestrians wishing to walk across the bridge or to take a short walking route to Hancock's business district.

Expressing concern about walkability near the Portage Lift Bridge, Hancock resident Merle Kindred addresses the Hancock City Council during the public comment period of their meeting on May 4, 2005. Council members pictured are, from left, Mary Tuisku, Robert Lewis, City Manager Glenn Anderson and Mayor Barry Givens. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

"This isn't a very pedestrian-friendly waterfront," Kindred said.

Allyson Jabusch, Hancock resident, also addressing the Council, stated she had experienced the same difficulty when she recently spent a weekend at the Ramada with some friends and wanted to take a walk with them across the bridge.

"We went under the bridge and up the embankment," Jabusch said. "There's a very worn-out path there."

It was especially difficult coming down, due to the erosion, she added.

Concerned residents say this steep path up the embankment near the Portage Lift Bridge in Hancock is presently the only pedestrian access from below the bridge. Residents and visitors would like to see a safer, walkable access from the area of the Ramada Inn in Hancock. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

"There is a need for safe access to Houghton from the Ramada," Jabusch said.

Mary Tuisku, Hancock City Councilwoman, suggested the city might approach the Department of Civil Engineering at Michigan Tech University and perhaps have students look at pedestrian safety and a potential walkway to the bridge.

"We've got a resource right at Michigan Tech," Tuisku said, "and if we have a plan in hand it would be much easier to get MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) to take a look at pedestrian safety and walkability issues in the city. We are not a walkable city. I don't believe we are."

Tuisku said the plan would have to be comprehensive rather than piecemeal.

"I think we've got to have a comprehensive plan that includes the entire entrance to the city, especially the bridge area, particularly focusing on pedestrian safety and walkability," Tuisku noted. "We've got isolated areas of the city that are conducive to walking but we don't have a cohesive system."

Andy Sikkema, MDOT engineer, said MDOT would work with the City of Hancock if they wanted to develop some type of access to the bridge, but the city needs to take the lead in resolving issues.

"We maintain the roads, but sidewalks are the responsibility of the community," Sikkema said. "What we typically do is help them look for different types of funding for such projects."

This sign warns pedestrians that walking under the bridge is not allowed. Access to the bridge from below is reserved for bridge operators, according to Andy Sikkema, MDOT engineer. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Mike Lahti, Houghton County Commissioner and owner of the Ramada Inn, agreed that the existing path near the hotel is very steep. Lahti, who also has plans to expand the Ramada, said he would like to see some improved pedestrian access, such as a stairway.

"It would be great for the hotel," Lahti said, "but I think it would also be good for the town because these folks would gladly hike into town and go shopping if they had an easier way to get there."

Susan Burack, Hancock resident and former City Council member, who has been facilitating recent monthly meetings of the three individual Wards of the City, said walkability is one of the issues being discussed at these meetings. The newest members of the Council represent these Wards: Bill Laitila, Ward 1; Sarah Heinonen Baratono, Ward 2; and Mayor Barry Givens, Ward 3.

"We've had one meeting in each Ward since February," Burack said. "The common themes at all three meetings have been preserving walkability and upkeep of neighborhood parks."

Burack noted residents interested in attending one of these Ward meetings can contact their Council member for the date and time of the next meeting.

"It's a great opportunity for citizen input," Burack added.

*Editor's note: Copper Country residents are invited to express their concerns about designing better communities at the upcoming "Better Development by Design" workshops to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on successive Tuesdays, May 10 and 17, 2005. The workshops will take place on the second floor of the Memorial Union Building (Ballroom A) at Michigan Technological University. Hancock City Manager Glenn Anderson and Houghton County Commissioner and Hancock business owner Mike Lahti, along with Julie Sprenger, Laurium Historic District, are scheduled to participate in the May 17 panel discussion on the topic, "Growing Business and Enhancing Our Assets." Read the article for details.

Visit the Keweenaw Now discussion forums to comment on this article.