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Ottawa County Road Commission outlines bridge, culvert and long-term planning projects for Holland
Summary
A county road official told the Holland City Planning Commission the county will replace a deteriorated bridge near Makatawa Bay Yacht Club this fall and pursue other bridge and culvert work while developing a strategic infrastructure plan and pursuing state and federal grants.
Kirk Van Coopering, with the Ottawa County Road Commission, told the Holland City Planning Commission on March 11 that the county will begin several local road and bridge projects later this year and is developing a longer-term strategic infrastructure plan.
Van Coopering said the county plans to replace a dilapidated bridge on South Shore Drive near the Makatawa Bay Yacht Club, with construction starting after the first of September to avoid peak boating season. He also listed a bridge replacement at 100 and Fourth Avenue over Black Creek and a culvert replacement on Beeline Road north of Greenway.
The county representative said the millage Holland voters approved last summer is supporting the work and asked the commission to expect further coordination with local units of government. “We build bridges and roads, but what people fail to realize is roads last 20 years. Bridges last 50 years,” Van Coopering said, adding the commission is seeking community input on long-term tradeoffs such as whether future corridors should include two or four traffic lanes, sidewalks, or separated bike paths.
Van Coopering said the county wants to create a strategic infrastructure plan and pursue state and federal grant funding to pay for projects. He said the county will conduct or seek traffic studies to inform decisions and that the county plans to report project updates to local governments approximately every six months.
Commission members asked clarifying questions about the bridge site and timing; Van Coopering confirmed the fall start date was intended to reduce disruption for marina users and noted the county will try to coordinate notifications and minimize local inconvenience. The remarks came during the meeting’s communications from the audience section and no formal action was taken by the Planning Commission.
Van Coopering closed by thanking the commission for supporting the millage and saying the county would continue outreach to local officials as project designs and schedules are refined.
