OTISCO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Ionia County Road Department (ICRD) has announced plans to improve the safety of the intersection at Zahm Road and Krupp Road, located south of Belding. While the project promises significant improvements for road safety, it also comes with the bittersweet news that the iconic “Shoe Tree” nearby will have to be removed.
The project, which is funded by approximately $400,000 from the Federal Highway Administration, aims to enhance the intersection’s alignment, as well as reconstruct portions of Zahm and Krupp Roads. The planned improvements include adding 6-foot shoulders to both roads, with 4 feet paved and 2 feet unpaved, which will help reduce the risk of accidents and improve overall safety.
Additionally, the project will feature a redesigned slope from the paved shoulder to the ditch line, which eliminates the need for guardrails, further boosting safety along the stretch of road.
However, the oak tree known locally as the “Shoe Tree” stands in the way of the new shoulder, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has reviewed the project’s designs, concluding that the removal of the tree is necessary to proceed with the planned upgrades. The shoe tree, which has become a well-known local landmark, has gained attention over the years due to the shoes and other items hung on its branches by passersby.
In a statement, the ICRD emphasized that the primary goal of the project is to enhance roadway conditions and reduce the potential for injuries and fatalities. Despite the sentimental value of the tree, the department noted that the road safety improvements must take precedence.
The oak tree will need to be removed before April 14 to prevent the spread of oak wilt and avoid disturbing protected bat habitats. To carry out the removal, Trees, LLC has been contracted for the job. Following the tree’s removal, MDOT will open the bidding process for the next phase of the road project.
While the Krupp Road shoe tree is not the only shoe tree in Ionia County, it has gained a special place in the community due to its recent history as a “shoe tree.”
The ICRD is hopeful that the planned safety improvements will make the intersection safer for all who travel through the area, though it’s clear that the removal of the Shoe Tree will leave a lasting impact on the local landscape.
