Willis Road Bridge

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General Information

General Information:  The Willis Road Bridge over the West Branch of Paint Creek is located between Hitchingham Road and Whittaker Road, in Sections 4 & 9 of Augusta Township.  The original bridge was built in 1926 and consists of a concrete slab with a span length of 20ft.  The bridge was widened in 1965 and consists of concrete box beams with a span of 28ft.  The total bridge width is 30ft.  The current weight restriction for the Willis Rd Bridge is 20T/24T/40T for I, II, and III unit vehicles respectively.  

The proposed structure is a two-lane, single span bridge with an estimated length of 40ft and a total clear width of 42ft.  The bridge will be comprised of fourteen concrete box beams measuring 36-inches in width by 12-inches in depth with a 6-inch concrete deck.  The proposed substructure will consist of vertical wall abutments.  The bridge is expected to be constructed during the summer of 2012.  

Background:  In late 2009, the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) was awarded a grant through the Local Bridge Program (LBP), which is administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation  (MDOT).  The final plans, specifications, and estimate are expected to be approved by the Washtenaw County Board of Road Commissioners in December 2011.  Construction is expected to start once school ends in early June 2012 and be completed by late summer 2012.  

The funding percentage for participating road approach and bridge construction items is ninety-five percent (95%).  The remaining five percent (5%) will be assumed by the Road Commission and Augusta Township.  The estimated cost for construction will be determined in March 2012 after all construction bids are received.  The project is included in the WCRC 2011 & 2012 budgets.  

Project Updates:  The Type, Size & Location (TS&L) Plans were submitted to the MDOT on September 23, 2011.  The Application for Section 106 Review was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) on October 14, 2011.  The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commission permit applications were submitted on October 17, 2011.  A utility meeting was held on October 26, 2011.  The Grade Inspection (GI) Plans, Proposal and Estimate were submitted to the MDOT on November 4, 2011.

November 27th of 2011: Utility coordination and final plan preparation is ongoing.

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