MARQUETTE COUNTY -- Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company announced  Tuesday that it’s no longer planning to use County Road 595 as a route for its trucks servicing the Eagle mine in northern Marquette County.
Instead, the company now plans to use more established roads through Marquette.

"Kennecott is committed to working with residents and to paying for necessary upgrades and significant safety and structural improvements to the Triple A, County Roads 510 and 550, Wright Street, and other transportation infrastructure," said Kennecott Eagle Minerals Acting Project Director Andrew Ware.

Kennecott's recent struggle with County Road 595 has been a long one, spanning five years.  The road would have been used to serve the Eagle mine and other businesses on Marquette County's west side.

"While we believe the proposed CR 595 was a better solution, we are prepared to use existing truck routes CR 510/550 as specified in permit conditions approved for the Eagle Mine," Ware said.

Kennecott cited two reasons for the decision to consider the use of existing roads in a press release sent out on Tuesday.

• Federal permitting timeline.  The schedule for full regulatory approval is uncertain.  As a result, the projected cost and completion date of the proposed CR 595 introduces risk relative to meeting Eagle production timeline.
• Community concerns.  Some community members objected to the potential impacts of building the new road in a largely undeveloped area.

Kennecott plans to begin working with local permit authorities, residents and others in the community to gather input on future plans for road improvements in Marquette County.  There was disappointment expressed by Marquette City Commissioners.

"County Road 595 would have assisted the community with truck traffic travelling through Marquette," said Marquette City Commissioner Don Ryan.  "There is already a large amount of truck traffic that travels the existing roads."

"People thought they were fighting the mine by opposing this road, and in trying to protect the environment, they're impacting communities," said Mayor of Marquette, John Kivela.  "Truck traffic that would have been going through the forest will now be travelling through our communities, in front of schools, businesses and homes."

Mayor Kivela stated that the city will be willing to work with Kennecott, but it is too early to tell at this time what exactly will be done.

The areas that would be impacted by the Eagle mine traffic include Humboldt Township, Ely Township, Ishpeming Township, Ishpeming, Negaunee Township, Negaunee, Marquette Township and Marquette.