White Lake area residents got a happy surprise last week when the
overpass overlooking Exit 126 on US-31 was opened to through traffic,
albeit in one lane (the left lane, for drivers coming from the Whitehall
High School side of the bridge). The Michigan Department of
Transportation said Tuesday, May 5 that the bridge will remain open to
one lane until next spring, when a full deck replacement of the
sub-structure will be done. That work will necessitate closing the
bridge once again. Only after that work is completed will the bridge
open in full.
"It's going to stay like that until next spring, and
then it will completely close so we can fully replace the deck, which
will be a full-season project," MDOT regional communications director
John Richard said. "This is just the beginning. But it is a good thing,
because they'll get a brand new deck."
Temporary stoplights were put
in place on each side of the bridge to allow one lane to be used by
drivers coming from both directions.
The bridge reopening comes well
ahead of the original estimate MDOT gave when a pothole in the bridge
first opened in January, forcing the bridge closure. After an
examination of the bridge deck, MDOT determined more work was necessary
to keep the bridge usable for drivers, which was why it was closed until
last week. At the time, the closure was estimated to last until
Memorial Day.
Richard said the accelerated reopening is the result of
the weather cooperating enough that crews were able to get the
necessary work done quickly.
"This is just limping along until we get
the major project in place," Richard said. "It's pretty common. A lot
of these bridges are reaching the end of their service life, and we have
to patch them up until we have the funding to do a major rehab. A lot
of the substructure is in good shape because it's protected from traffic
and the elements, so those stay in good shape longer than the bridge
deck."
