On our fishing trip, the work on restoring the catwalk at the Grand Haven lighthouse pier was clear thru the fog. The catwalk was removed before we arrived in Michigan. Dismantled with the intention to refurbish and reinstall. But after inspection, most of the catwalk needed to be completely replaced.
Originally, the catwalk served as access to the light and foghouse during bad weather. Now, with automated lights, the catwalk serves to return a visible, important piece of history to our beach town.
The project, costing over one million dollars and paid for by donations, is scheduled for completion in August. Work has been slowed by bad weather and waves crashing over the pier. After the metal, comes the wiring and return of the lights. The last two years, only the foghouse and lighthouse on the pier… such a naked look. The new catwalk will be a faithful recreation advertised to last a hundred years. Below shows the “fully clothed” pier from a few years ago.. and how it will again look with the return of the catwalk.