Road Commission Eyes Beitner Bridge Replacement, River Parking Changes

The Grand Traverse County Road Commission (GTCRC) is planning to replace the bridge carrying Beitner Road over the Boardman/Ottaway River as soon as 2026 thanks to a federal grant that will cover 80 percent of the project costs. The project – currently in design – could affect one or both riverfront parking lots next to the bridge, long considered a safety risk due to traffic conflicts and pedestrians darting across Beitner Road.

Road commissioners received an update on the project from staff at their recent meeting. The bridge replacement is estimated to cost $4-$4.5 million, though GTCRC Manager Dan Watkins cautions that’s only an engineering estimate – final costs will be determined when the project goes out to bid next year. GTCRC will be responsible for the 20 percent of costs not covered by the grant. Construction is targeted for 2026, though Watkins say it’s possible work could also occur in 2027.

The latest plans call for replacing the two-lane bridge – which has two tubes underneath allowing river users to pass below Beitner – with a single-span bridge that will create an open, natural river flow underneath. Staff originally considered keeping the bridge at two lanes but are now leaning toward three to provide a center turn lane. Three lanes could accommodate a future widening of the Beitner/Keystone corridor up to Chums Corner. Road Commissioner Jason Gillman said the corridor is “just going to get busier and busier,” adding that “two lanes isn’t going to cut it” for future growth. However, staff noted that the three lanes will only extend 600-700 feet out from the bridge as part of this particular project.

The center turn lane could help accommodate traffic using the Keystone Rapids Trailhead parking lot (west of the bridge) and Beitner Park parking lot (east of the bridge). Watkins tells The Ticker that having those two lots across from each other directly next to the bridge has created a “really dangerous situation for people running back and forth with their kayaks and tubes. There’s potential for a bad accident there.” Traffic pileups are also common when the lots – and Beitner – become crowded during the summer, with limited breaks in traffic leading to frustrated and sometimes reckless drivers.

That situation has led GTCRC and the county’s Parks and Recreation department to consider other parking options. Officials are exploring the possibility of shutting off the driveways to both parking lots from Beitner Road. The Keystone Rapids Trailhead could potentially be relocated down to the River Road roundabout, which has a spur right now that’s essentially a leg to nowhere. A new parking lot could be built off the roundabout and connect out to the walking trail and river. For Beitner Park, a new connection could be built from River Road directly to the parking lot, negating the need for access from Beitner.

Making those plans a reality is contingent on multiple factors, including coordination among multiple county leaders as well as the City of Traverse City, which owns property adjacent to the roundabout. Funding is another issue. The bridge grant does not cover ancillary pedestrian or park improvements – also typically outside the scope of GTCRC – so an entity like Parks and Recreation would need to secure funding for implementation.

Watkins emphasizes that “nothing is set in stone” when it comes to the parking lot plans. However, he confirms “staff is working with the Parks and Recreation department to find a safe way for people to access the parks.” Any park changes would likely occur separately from the bridge and probably not until 2027, Watkins says. “We are just trying to plan as effectively as we can for now,” he says.

GTCRC staff told road commissioners that a balance must be maintained between preserving recreational access for residents and ensuring safety in the corridor. Staff considered a design that would have put a pedestrian crossing underneath the bridge but ran into multiple issues. For one, the road would have to be lifted three-and-a-half feet to accommodate such a crossing. Also, staff said obtaining a permit for a concrete underpass with a handrail next to a natural river would likely be a major challenge.

In addition to determining the future of the parking lots and the final bridge design, GTCRC is also working through detour plans. Watkins says the Beitner bridge will most likely be closed during construction, cutting off a significant north-south route in town. GTCRC is also tackling a planned reconstruction of part of Cass Road near Hartman Road, a project that will add a turn lane in the approach to South Airport. Cass will likely see a heavy amount of bridge detour traffic, so Watkins is hopeful that road project – which is receiving funding from the local metropolitan planning organization – will be finished before bridge construction begins. “Most likely that will be early 2026,” he says.