Reopening of 'Miracle Mile' Trail May Cost $20M
The "Miracle Mile" section of the Little Traverse Wheelway, which overlooks Lake Michigan, has been closed since 2019 due to erosion.
A recent engineering report estimates that the potential reopening of this section could cost nearly $20 million.
- The "Miracle Mile" is a 1-mile segment between Petoskey and Bay Harbor.
- It is part of the 26-mile regional trailway that runs from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix.
- The trail has been closed since late 2019 due to erosion caused by record high water levels on Lake Michigan.
The "Miracle Mile" is often regarded as the most scenic portion of the entire trailway.
In 2020, a football field-sized section of the coastal bluff collapsed beneath the trail.
An engineering firm, Baird, presented a report to the Petoskey City Council, outlining repairs to stabilize the 120-foot Lake Michigan bluff.
Author's summary: Reopening the "Miracle Mile" trail may cost $20M due to erosion damage.