(Dexter) Main Street Bridge
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General Information The (Dexter) Main Street Bridge over the Mill Creek is located between Dexter-Chelsea Road and Jeffords Street, in Section 6 of Scio Township, and borders the Dexter Village limits.
The existing concrete bridge was built in 1932; it is 52.2-ft. wide, 74.8-ft. in length, and has a clear roadway of 40 feet.
The current weight restriction for the (Dexter) Main Street Bridge is 7-tons, posted in 2007.
Background
The current (Dexter) Main Street Bridge, (circa 1932), is located on a primary road in Scio Township that runs directly through the Village of Dexter; the bridge is an important structure to area residents and merchants as it is a primary means of access to the Village.
In 2005, the Road Commission was awarded a grant through the Local Bridge Program (LBP),(formerly referred to as the "Critical Bridge Program"), which is administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). A grant of $5.5 million was awarded to the Road Commission for this project, of which the agency estimates that approximately $2.5 million will be needed to replace the 75-year old bridge, remove the existing dam, and cover additional costs for design, inspections, local match requirements, and sediment remediation. In that the LBP funds will cover 95% of the construction costs only, approximately $560,000 will be provided by the Road Commission for the preliminary design and construction engineering, the local match, and oversight costs for materials testing and inspections (to ensure the bridge is built to federal and state standards). Likewise, the Village of Dexter will contribute approximately $450,000 toward the sediment removal.
In April 2006, the (Dexter) Main Street Bridge received an annual bridge inspection conducted by the Scott Civil Engineering Company, at which time the weight restriction was maintained at 10-tons. (In 2003, the posting was reduced from 30-tons to 20-tons, and in 2004 it was reduced from 20-tons to 10-tons.) The bridge at that time was rated in poor condition. By 2007, upon the completion of another annual inspection, the weight restriction was again lowered, this time to 7-tons, which now restricts many large vehicles, such as fire trucks, from using the bridge.
In 2005, the Road Commission hired JJR of Ann Arbor to conduct
a feasibility
study to determine if the bridge replacement alone would accommodate
the current and 20-year forecasted traffic volumes. The completed study
revealed that just replacing and widening the bridge would not alleviate
all of the traffic congestion, and that additional road improvements
would be needed in the near future to adequately mitigate the regional
traffic problems in this western area of Washtenaw County. While the
Road Commission will continue to seek out viable long-term solutions to
address the regional congestion problems, at this time the bridge
replacement and dam removal is all that is scheduled for 2008.
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The New Bridge
The Road Commission retained URS Great Lakes to generate engineering plans for this project, and the plans and specifications for the bridge replacement have been completed pursuant to MDOT policies and procedures. The final plans, specifications and estimate were approved by the Washtenaw County Board of Road Commissioners on January 16, 2008 (Resolution No. RC08-015).
The state-aid funding percentage for participating road approach and bridge construction items is ninety-five percent (95%). The remaining five-percent (5%) will be assumed by Road Commission and the Village of Dexter. Non-participating items associated with aesthetics, sedimentation management and stream restoration will be borne by the Village of Dexter. The estimated cost of construction is $2,304,400. This project is included in the 2008 Road Commission budget.
It is anticipated that this bridge replacement project will take approximately 16 months to fully complete, from the initial design stage through to its final construction.
The impending construction work consists of the removal and replacement of the existing bridge and associated road approach improvements. This project also includes removal of the existing Mill Creek Dam and related sedimentation management activities.
The existing structure will be replaced with a new concrete three-lane bridge, with a deck span of 62 feet (width), a length of 101
feet, and a clear roadway of 47.75 feet.
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Project Updates
As of May 22, 2009
The final course of asphalt pavement on the road approaches to the new Main Street Bridge was completed on May 21. Pavement striping was completed this morning, May 22. Thank you to everyone for your patience during the paving operations. Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.
As of May 19, 2009Work on the Dexter Main Street Bridge is continuing; this week will include asphalt milling and paving operations. Milling of the roadway approaches is expected this afternoon (Tuesday). The temporary asphalt surface that was placed at the bridge last fall, which served to “ramp” traffic onto the bridge deck, will be removed. On Wednesday and Thursday, asphalt paving will be underway. This will include the paving of the final (top) course of asphalt. Traffic will be maintained with flagging operations during the milling and paving. Delays are likely and motorists are advised to seek an alternate route. When paving has been completed, traffic will be shifted into the final position on the bridge. Three lanes, including a center-turn lane, will extend from the Village limits, across the bridge, and to the Dexter-Chelsea Road intersection. Remaining site work includes concrete surface sealing, installation of ornamental steel railing, hand staining and final restoration of disturbed areas.
As of April 8, 2009Work has been tentatively scheduled to resume on the Dexter Main Bridge during the week of April 13, 2009. The actual start date will be weather dependent. A portable changeable message sign will be set up to remind motorists of the impending construction. Items to be completed in 2009 include road approach work (concrete curb-gutter, top course asphalt paving, pavement striping), bridge items (ornamental steel railing, concrete surface sealing, aesthetic staining) and final grading and restoration of the site. This work is expected to take approximately 6-8 weeks to complete. Motorist delays should be limited, with the exception of the final top course asphalt paving and striping of the road. I will send out an additional update prior to the paving and striping.
As of December 12, 2008
The southerly bridge barrier wall was cast on November 24. The wall was
blanketed to protect the newly cast concrete from freezing temperatures.
With the previously completed HMA paving (leveling course), the southerly
portion of the bridge and approaches were striped and (two-way) traffic
shifted on November 26. Construction of the northerly sidewalk proceeded on
December 1. The sidewalk was cast and subsequently blanketed on December 3.
Storm sewer construction in the southeast quadrant continued throughout the
week of December 1. Clean up of the site, including the removal of
remaining concrete formwork and stockpiled bridge construction materials,
is ongoing.
As of November 21, 2008
With the placement of the final five (5) concrete I-beams completed on
November 5, work proceeded on the forming and casting of the concrete
diaphragms (between these beams) and the backwalls. The deck was thereafter
formed, reinforcing steel was placed and the concrete deck was cast on
November 13. Due to cold temperatures, insulating blankets were secured to
protect the deck surface from freezing. The south side sidewalk was cast on
November 18, and the barrier wall is now being formed. Roadway approach
work in the southeast and southwest quadrants is ongoing, with asphalt
paving currently underway. Two-way traffic will be shifted onto the
southerly portion of the bridge during the week of November 24, thereby
accommodating the forming and casting of the north side sidewalk.
As of October 27, 2008
As of October 10, 2008
The foundation piling within the southwest cofferdam enclosure was completed on October 2. The concrete tremie (working surface) was thereafter cast. Forms were erected, reinforcing steel was set and the foundation footing was poured on October 6. The abutment forms, interior form liners and placement of reinforcing steel are ongoing. Work on the southeast steel sheet cofferdam enclosure continues. Foundation piling within the southeast cofferdam is expected to be driven the week of October 13.
As of September 29, 2008
Stage 2 construction activities are ongoing, including the driving of foundation piling within the southwest cofferdam enclosure, adjacent to the American Legion property. Construction of the southeast steel sheet cofferdam enclosure is underway. Various rock structures are being constructed in the Mill Creek, both upstream and downstream of the bridge. These rock structures are related to the dam removal operation.
As of September 19, 2008
With the shifting of two-way traffic onto the newly constructed (northerly) portion of the Main Street Bridge, Stage 2 construction activities began on Friday, September 5. This included the removal of the old concrete deck and bridge beams. Driving of the steel sheet cofferdam enclosure, which is used to allow the construction of the new bridge foundation, began in the southwest corner adjacent to the American Legion property. The driving of foundation piling in the southwest corner is expected to begin the week of September 22nd. During that time the construction of the southeast cofferdam enclosure will begin.
As of September 4, 2008
The Washtenaw County Road Commission and the E.T. MacKenzie Company completed the necessary roadway approach construction, including asphalt paving and pavement striping, on Thursday, September 4, 2008. With the completion of this work, two-way traffic was shifted onto the newly constructed roadway approach and Main Street Bridge at 7:30 PM yesterday evening.
As of September 2, 2008 View Photo Gallery (unavailable at this time)
(Back to top) 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.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission and the E.T.
MacKenzie Company have scheduled the daytime
closure of Dexter Main Street on September 2nd, 3rd
and 4th. The closure is expected to be in effect
between 9 AM and 4 PM all three days. These daytime closures will facilitate the
completion of the roadway approach construction to
the east and west of the bridge. The work involved
will include the milling of the existing asphalt
surface, grading, paving and pavement striping.
Based on this schedule,
two-way traffic will be shifted onto the newly
constructed portion of the Dexter Main Street Bridge
at the end of the day Thursday, September 4th.
The asphalt paving work involved is weather
dependent.
As of May 6, 2008
The "pre-stage" portion of this project was completed the week of April
28, 2008, and two-way traffic was shifted to the pond side of the bridge on
April 29. The Contractor's crew (E.T. MacKenzie Company) began removing the
Fire Department side of the old bridge on April 30. This included the
removal of the old sidewalk (which had been closed many years ago) and
bridge railing. The work crew has also removed part of the old deck on the
west end (Mill Creek Sports) of the bridge. This has provided an opening to
get beneath the old concrete deck. Plywood "false decking" is being placed
under the old deck. This plywood will catch debris as the deck is
demolished, to avoid (as much as possible) debris falling into the creek
below. The Contractor has also placed a few vertical steel sheets; these
sheets are the beginning of the "cofferdam" enclosure. When completed, this
steel sheet enclosure will allow the work on the new bridge foundation.
More steel sheets will be driven later this week. The removal of the dam
should begin in June.
As of May 5, 2008
A Media Advisory was prepared and distributed on April 15 to announce the
start of this bridge replacement project. Following the suspension of
springtime weight restrictions, construction activities began on April 16.
Work during this period included the removal of the sidewalk from the south
side of the bridge and associated efforts for the temporary widening.
Two-way traffic will be maintained during construction. Temporary paving
was also completed resulting in the shifting of traffic during the week of
April 28. Staff continues to follow up with AT&T representatives to ensure
the timely completion of utility relocation work.
As of April 28, 2008
Traffic has been shifted for the part-width bridge construction.
However, two lanes remain open to traffic at this time. For cyclists,
the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society has posted a recommended
DETOUR route
on their website at the following link:
Bicyclist
Detour
As of April 11, 2008
Based on the results of the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process,
WCRC staff will be submitting the preferred consultant for construction
surveying services to the Board of County Road Commissioners for approval at
the April 15, 2008 Board meeting. During this period, WCRC staff continued
to monitor the relocation of multiple utilities. A complication related to
the relocation of the AT&T facilities was identified and addressed.
The staking of temporary construction sign locations was coordinated with
the Contractor. Construction operations are expected to begin, pending the
suspension of springtime weight restrictions.
As of March 28, 2008
Proposals for construction surveying services were received on March 17,
2008. Road Commission staff are in the process of reviewing the proposals,
with an MDOT Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) meeting to follow
thereafter. WCRC Staff continue to monitor the relocation of multiple
utilities. A preconstruction meeting was scheduled and held on March 17;
those attending included representatives from the E.T. MacKenzie Company
(the Contractor), the design consultant, emergency services, utility
companies, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Dexter
Schools, and the Village of Dexter. A coordination meeting was held with the
Village of Dexter on March 19. In addition, a notice was prepared and
distributed, and preparations were made for the Public Information Meeting
that was held on the evening of March 25, 2008 to provide area residents and
other interested parties with an update on the (Dexter) Main Street Bridge
replacement project and Mill Creek dam removal. The meeting was held at the
Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter. A brief presentation began at 6:00 p.m.,
followed by an Open House format to provide citizens an opportunity to
discuss the project one-on-one with Road Commission staff, Village of Dexter
officials, and consultant representatives. A handout of Frequently Asked
Questions was also provided to the meeting participants.
As of March 14, 2008
Road Commission staff have prepared and distributed a Request for Proposal
for construction surveying services. Proposals are due back to the Road
Commission on March 17, 2008. Following the MDOT QBS process, a consultant
was selected to provide Materials Testing services. Road Commission staff met
with Dexter Village representatives on March 7 to discuss project coordination.
WCRC staff continue to follow-up on the relocation of utilities. The
relocation of MichCon-AT&T utilities is underway. The relocation of Detroit
Edison overhead began the week of March 10. The MDOT bid letting was on March 7;
E.T. MacKenzie Company, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was
identified as the as-submitted low bid at $2.52 million.
As of December 4, 2007
Design is currently being completed, with an expected MDOT bid letting for March 2008. Construction is expected to begin in April 2008, with
completion in November 2008. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Permit Application for the bridge and dam removal is
currently being reviewed; approval is expected in January 2008. A utility meeting was held on November 27, 2007, to discuss the options
available for the utility relocations needed for this project.
Contacts