Village Takes Steps Toward New Bridge Construction

A positive election outcome and a prepared administration are paving the way for the new Main Street Bridge to begin construction activity as soon as March 2015.

A concept design for the new Main Street Bridge would incorporate railings similar to the original design of the historic 1929 bridge, and an “overlook” site on either side of the bridge. The current metal railings were part of a 1972 restoration project.

“We signed the program application providing the state with the necessary information on the existing bridge and soil sampling on the Thursday after the election,” said Village Manager Jeff Wallace last week. “We already have a contract with the design engineers, and basically the next steps will be entering dates into the project calendar.”

Projects like the Main Street Bridge, that are underwritten by state and federal grants, require a “Project Calendar” which includes deadlines for submitting information regarding inspections, bid documents, contractors, and work start and completion dates.

One of the biggest stages of planning to get work under way and on schedule, according to Wallace, will be getting the variety of state organizations involved in the construction of a bridge—including the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, and many others—together in one room for an extensive planning meeting where departmental concerns can be expressed and issues addressed by the appropriate parties.

“This is a big step,” Wallace admitted. “But we don’t anticipate any issues that would delay the construction schedule we are hoping for.”

That schedule would involve a completely new bridge over the River Raisin within the next 12-15 months.

Village administration will need to settle on a finalized design from the engineers, URS Corporation; then develop bid documents, select contractors, and market the bonds that were approved by voters on August 5. Contractor selection will begin after the first of next year, and the goal is to start construction in early Spring. Wallace said the construction process is currently anticipated to take 6-7 months.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.