MDOT bridge bundling project finished in Livingston County

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MDOT bridge bundling project finished in Livingston County

Fast facts:
- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge bundling pilot project moved a step closer to completion as the Iosco Road bridge over the west branch of the Red Cedar River Drain reopened to traffic Monday.
- The pilot encompasses major improvements on 19 locally owned bridges in 2022.
- MDOT's online dashboard at Michigan.gov/BridgeBundling allows the public to track progress on the projects.

LANSING, Mich. ­- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge bundling pilot project continues to close in on completion, with a Livingston County bridge reopening to traffic Monday, Oct. 10, four days ahead of schedule.

The Iosco Road bridge over the west branch of the Red Cedar River Drain, built in 1948, was in serious condition prior to rebuilding, which started Aug. 15. The bridge had its superstructure replaced and slightly widened, along with substructure repairs and approach work.

Livingston County had two structures included in the bridge bundling program, on Mason and Iosco roads. Iosco Road, while not as heavily traveled as Mason Road, is a vital connector for many areas in the county.

"Having this bridge included in the bridge bundling pilot was a tremendous benefit to be able fix the bridge with no impacts to our budget," said Steve Wasylk, managing director of the Livingston County Road Commission.

Sixteen local agency bridge bundling projects are now largely finished, with work on three others ongoing. The last of the bundled bridges is scheduled to be completed by November 20.

This year's bridge bundling pilot project, the first of its kind in Michigan, is repairing 19 bridges in serious or critical condition that are owned by local agencies. Each bridge will have its superstructure replaced, which includes full removal and replacement of the bridge deck and supporting beams.

All of the bridges encompassed by the bridge bundling pilot project will be completed within 60 or 90 days from the start of repairs.

The pilot project is funded by Federal Highway Improvement Program (HIP) dollars. MDOT bridge staff and consultants are doing preliminary design and construction administration work for the bridge bundling program.

An online dashboard at Michigan.gov/BridgeBundling provides project updates and shows percent completion, detour routes, and other information for each project.

The pilot program is only the first phase of the bridge bundling initiative. $196 million in federal COVID relief funds appropriated by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature will allow the state to execute Phase II of the bridge bundling program, beginning planning and development later this year, to address 59 more bridges.

A list of the Phase II bridges, which were prioritized based on regional mobility and safety, is available here. Phase II focuses on closed and load-posted bridges. Some will be permanently removed while others will be fully replaced.

MDOT expects bridge bundling, which covers several bridge locations under one contract, to streamline coordination and permitting, increase economies of scale, and improve bridge conditions on local routes around the state. MDOT is working to expand the approach, already in use on state trunkline projects, to address locally owned bridges.

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  The Iosco Road bridge over the west branch of the Red Cedar River Drain in Livingston County shown under construction earlier this summer. The bridge was in serious condition before being repaired as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge bundling pilot project. The pilot encompasses improvements to 19 locally owned bridges in 2022. (Photo courtesy of RSE Engineers)

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge bundling pilot project moved closer to completion as the Iosco Road bridge over the west branch of the Red Cedar River Drain in Livingston County reopened to traffic on Monday, Oct. 10. (Photo courtesy of RSE Engineers)