News Detail

The Michigan Department of Transportation is gearing up for construction season, as some West Michigan projects are already underway or will begin in the next few days. Crews Monday will begin bridge improvements on Broadway Avenue over Seaway Drive in the Muskegon Heights-Norton Shores area. There will be lane closures on Seaway Drive until the project is done in July.

Road resurfacing begins Tuesday on U-S 131 from the Mecosta-Montcalm county line to 12 Mile Road south of Big Rapids. Part of this project involves replacing the bridge decking over 3 Mile Road using "bridge slide" technology. Crews will build a new bridge next to the old one, then demolish the old bridge and slide the new one into place on skids. A similar project is underway on Alden Nash Ave. (M-50) over I-96 near Lowell.

"These bridges are old and need to be replaced," says MDOT spokesman Jon Richard. "The great thing about the bridge slide is a detour will only be necessary for about five days, whereas a typical bridge replacement you'll have a detour in place for weeks or even months." Another big project is work on the bridge decking at U-S 131 and the I-196 Ford Freeway. MDOT says that will cause lane closures through August.

Source-On Request