The Washtenaw County Road Commission announced that the replacement of the Bethel Church Road Short-Span Bridge has been completed, and the road officially reopened to the motoring public at 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 21, 2007.
The Bethel Church Road Short-Span Bridge over the Bauer Drain is located between Alber Road and Parker Road, in Sections 30 and 31 of Lodi Township. The original structure (circa 1950s) was posted at 10-tons after an inspection in 2000, prior to its permanent closure this summer.
On July 6, 2007, the Road Commission CLOSED the old Bethel Church Road Bridge due to the severe deterioration and failure of the superstructure (mudmats, deck, and beams). This bridge was one of seven short-span bridges and culverts in Washtenaw County that the Road Commission was forced to close immediately upon routine, biennial bridge inspections that revealed the deterioration. The bridge inspector hired by the Road Commission, Scott Civil Engineering of Grand Rapids, Michigan, recommended that the Road Commission impose an immediate closure of the Bethel Church Road Bridge for the safety of the motoring public.
After its closure, the old, failed bridge deck was removed by Road Commission Operations crews in August, and barricades were put in place until the new structure could be replaced this month. The replacement included the installation of a specially-treated timber deck fabricated by the Krenn Bridge Company, out of Vicksburg, Michigan, as well as new concrete abutment caps and guardrails.
The next closed structure that is scheduled for replacement is located on Waters Road in Freedom Township. The replacement of this bridge is expected to begin in early to mid-December and should be completed before the end of the year, weather permitting.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding these updates on Washtenaw County bridges and culverts, contact Kelly Jones, P.E., Bridge Engineer, at (734) 327-6647, between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., or via email at: jonesk@wcroads.org.
If you require assistance with media information, contact Val Cooper, Public Information Officer, at (734) 327-6675 or via email at: cooperv@wcroads.org.