The Washtenaw County Road Commission announced today the Liberty Road Bridge replacement project has been completed, and the road was officially reopened to the traveling public on Wednesday, November 26, 2008.
The former short-span
bridge over the Haas Drain was located on Liberty Road between
Steinbach Road and Dancer Road in Lima Township. On July 10, 2007,
the Washtenaw County Road Commission closed the Liberty Road Bridge
over the Haas Drain upon the completion of a routine inspection. The
inspection revealed severe deterioration and structural failure of
the bridge and abutments. The bridge inspector recommended that the
Road Commission impose an immediate closure of the structure for the
safety of the motoring public.
The bridge was one
of seven short-span bridges and culverts in Washtenaw County that
the Road Commission was forced to close in 2007, following routine,
biennial inspections.
In August of this year, the Road Commission’s Heavy Equipment Crew
removed the old, failed bridge. Through a collaborative effort
during September, the Lenawee County Road Commission removed the old
bridge foundations and installed timber piles to support the new
bridge. Over the last 3 weeks the Heavy Equipment Crew completed
installation of the new 24’ wide by 24’ long timber bridge.
The Road Commission thanks our community partners and the traveling
public for their patience and support while we replaced this bridge.