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MONTMORENCY COUNTY, Mich. — Alpena’s not the only Northeast Michigan county working on a bridge.

The non–profit group Huron Pines teamed up with Montmorency County to build bridges that improve the Thunder Bay ecosystem.

These bridges replace culvert–style river crossings over the Thunder Bay River’s many sub–streams. Culverts force rivers and streams to flow faster through a small space.

Because fish can’t swim against these high–speed currents, culverts disrupt their feeding and mating habits. Bridges allow water to flow more naturally, which is better for the fish and the river system.

Huron Pines project supervisor Josh Leisen said these projects benefit people too.

“[Culverts] also present an issue when we get floodwater or high-flow events. Water backs up behind the roadway and can potentially cause a washout. That does happen at undersized culverts across the state.”

Huron Pines supervises the project while the Montmorency Road Commission provides the labor and machinery.

They completed their first bridge at the Gilchrist Creek crossing in 2020.

They plan on building three more bridges this summer.