Township leaders from around southern Berrien County are heaping praise on the Berrien County Road Department for the ongoing Red Arrow Highway work.
The department has for the past few years been reconstructing the busy road around Chikaming and New Buffalo townships, and has plans to get to work on part of the road in Lake Township this year. The supervisors of all three townships addressed the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday to say their residents have been pleased with how things are going.
Chikaming Township’s David Bunte said initial complaints from business owners eventually melted away.
“Each and every one of those concerns were addressed by Kevin Stack and the road department,” Bunte said. “Each and every one of those concerns were backed up by data. As the final section of the Red Arrow is being completed this spring, the naysayers have dwindled down to next to nothing in Chikaming Township and our region.”
Bunte said everyone’s now just excited to see the work finished and get that new linear trail along the side of the road. New Buffalo Township’s Michelle Heit had similar thoughts.
“[New] Buffalo Township greatly appreciates the partnership with the county on completing our portion of the trail,” Heit said.
Lake Township’s Zach Carson said some initial concerns about this year’s work between Bridgman and the Cook plant have been allayed after a meeting last fall at which the road department explained the project. He said there’s no need for another town hall on it, as has been suggested.
The road department’s plan is to have the entirety of Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County back in good shape within the next few years.
