Ortonville – Just as robins are a sure sign of spring’so too are utility workers spotted around the South Street Bridge.
Village officials announced Feb. 23, that South Street and portions of Church Street will be closed to through traffic from June 10 through Aug.26 to rebuild the 60-year old South Street Bridge.
‘First thing you are going to see will be the utility companies doing some things around the bridge,? said Village Manager Paul Zelenak.
Last week The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) met with village contracted, Rowe Engineering specialists to finalize plans before starting the replacement of the South Street Bridge.
Officials from MDOT are planning to bid out the project in May, aiming for a project start date of June 10.
Before the reconstruction work can begin, however, Zelenak said utility poles need to be relocated farther from the area and gas lines which are attached to the bridge need to be moved.
Although the preliminary utilities work will not precipitate closing the road, reconstruction will, causing what Zelenak calls, ‘an inconvenience to residents and businesses on South Street.?
‘We understand that this is going to be inconvenient but at the end of it we will have a bridge,? Zelenak said. ‘Not one with Band-aided asphalt overlays and weight limits that prohibit busses and fire equipment.?
While, says Zelenak, there will be no specific detour route around the bridge, he suggests residents, merchants, and visitors should make plans to use Church and Mill streets in addition to M-15 to maneuver around the detour.
‘It’s pretty difficult to reroute down to a specific street because it will depend on where people are coming from,? Zelenak said.
While traffic will be disrupted around the bridge area for three months, so too will the construction cause disruption for residents in terms of noise, dirt, and traffic backups.
Zelenak says officials considered periods of lighter traffic patterns when scheduling the project which is in June after the schools are closed for the summer.
Zelenak is hoping for patience at the inconvenience reminding residents that if the bridge doesn’t get fixed now, it will be closed from disrepair in the near future.
In February 2003 MDOT approved critical bridge funding in the amount of $500,000 for reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, after a year long collaborative campaign of village, township, county, and state officials, as well as residents and businesses, and Ortonville Chamber appeals for the funds.
At the time of the approval Zelenak said the total cost of the bridge reconstruction will be more than $720,000, which MDOT will cover up to 95 percent (around $500,000).
‘The state is going to spend a half of a million dollars to replace this bridge and the contractors will be working six days a week to get it done before school begins again in August,? Zelenak said.
‘We’re going to have to put up with dirt, noise, and construction for almost three months, but we will have a new bridge at the end of it.?