Saginaw Valley Rail Trail: Bad River and Beaver Creek Crossings

The 11.5-mile Saginaw Valley Rail Trail begins in the Village of St. Charles and winds its way northward through Swan Creek and James Townships before connecting with the Saginaw Township Path system at Center and Stroebel Roads. The trail is barrier-free and boasts a fishing platform, wildlife viewing area, parallel equestrian trail, and bridges.

During the first phase of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail construction, two railroad bridges were rehabilitated and retrofitted between Lumberman’s Park and Martin Road in the Village of St. Charles and Swan Creek Township in Saginaw County.

The first structure is a five-span steel girder bridge crossing the Bad River, located along the rail trail less than 200 feet north of Lumberman’s Park and the SVRT trailhead. The existing timber railroad ties and steel rails were removed before the remaining steel structure was cleaned and repainted in compliance with MDOT standards. The reinforced steel girder system was retrofitted with a paved bituminous surface deck and handrails, which were constructed from galvanized pipe rails and timber rail posts.

The second structure is a nine-span timber structure crossing the Beaver Creek near M-52. This is located more than 4,000 feet north of Lumberman’s Park. The existing railroad ties on the bridge were removed and replaced with a new timber decking and handrails constructed from galvanized pipe rails and timber rail posts.

Spicer Group assisted the Saginaw County Parks Department with the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail Master Plan, grant writing and administration, as well as providing the complete design and construction administration for multiple phases of the project.