On July 3, 2007, the Washtenaw County Road Commission CLOSED the Harris Road Short-Span Bridge over Fowler Creek upon the completion of a routine inspection. This short-span bridge, estimated to be about 50 years old, is located on a gravel local road between Cherry Hill Road and Vreeland Road in Sections 22 and 23 of Superior Township. Approximately 100 vehicles traverse the Harris Road Bridge each day.
The DETOUR ROUTE designated by the Road Commission for this bridge closure is Vreeland Road to Prospect Road to Cherry Hill Road.
The biennial inspection of this bridge, conducted on June 21, 2007 by hired consultant Scott Civil Engineering, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, revealed severe deterioration and structural failure of an abutment. The bridge inspector recommended that the Road Commission impose an immediate closure of the structure for the safety of the motoring public. Up until this recent closing, the Harris Road Bridge had held a 5-ton weight limit restriction since 1999. (View photo gallery)
This bridge, along with the Seven Mile Road Bridge in Salem Township, were both closed on July 3, 2007. (Click on above link for more information on the Seven Mile Road Bridge closure.) This bridge is not being considered for replacement at this time due to current Road Commission funding constraints.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding these bridge closures, please contact Kelly Jones, P.E. at (734) 327-6647 between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. If you require assistance with media information, please contact Val Cooper, Public Information Officer, at (734) 327-6675 or via email at: cooperv@wcroads.org.