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Engineer warns Wheelway boardwalk’s lateral supports need replacement; marathon route unsafe
Summary
An engineering review presented to the Charlevoix County Board on Jan. 14 found the Wheelway boardwalk’s lateral tie-backs are largely compromised and recommended replacing them; the engineer advised against routing the June Charlevoix Marathon across the boardwalk and recommended closure when the boardwalk accumulates snow.
Pat Machin of Machin Engineering told the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 14 that lateral tie-backs that provide side-to-side support for the Wheelway boardwalk are largely compromised while vertical supports and the frame remain intact. Machin recommended replacement of all tie-backs and said that once the boardwalk accumulates snow it should be closed.
Machin told commissioners that replacing the tie-backs is expensive given the number of connections involved and that engineering costs can be separated from construction costs. Commissioners pressed for information about the expected lifespan of repairs and the cost; no construction contract or funding source was finalized at the meeting.
The engineering presentation included explicit advice against routing the Charlevoix Marathon across the boardwalk in its current condition; Commissioner Annemarie Conway later said she will inform the Charlevoix City Manager that the boardwalk will not be safe for the marathon scheduled for June 2026. The Board did not vote on a repair contract during the meeting and did not adopt any timeline for repairs.
Next steps: The presentation identified safety concerns and budget implications but left open how and when repairs will be funded and scheduled. The Board’s discussion indicates staff will return with more cost and lifespan estimates before formal action.
