You won't be able to see the work being done on the Stadium Boulevard Bridges from State Street this year. All of that activity is taking place behind the scenes where city officials are finalizing plans and lining up funding for the spans above State.
Last year city workers removed part of the 92-year-old bridge after one of the beams began failing. Now it is only accessible by two lanes of traffic on what has become one of the city's most obvious failing (but still safe for the time being) pieces of infrastructure.
"When a structure gets to this point its very, very hard to say how much longer it's useable," says Homayoon Pirooz, a project manager with the city of Ann Arbor.
The city held a public work session on the replacement span plans earlier this week. Another public meeting will probably be scheduled for later this year and right before construction is set to begin next year. Rebuilding the bridges (one crosses State and the other a nearby railroad line) will take approximately 18 months.
Current plans call for more pedestrian-friendly bridges with aesthetic touches like historic lamp posts, benches and other accoutrement. Electrical lines will also be buried underground. The upgrades will be similar to what the Broadway bridges on the north side of the city underwent a few years ago. It will also include space for automobiles, bicyclists and pedestrians. The designs are expected to be finished by this summer.
The price tag for the whole project is pegged at $23 million. Pirooz expects a combination of funding sources will pay for the project.
"There is potential for federal funds and state funds," Pirooz says. "We are hoping that when we begin most of the costs will be paid mostly by other sources."
Source: Homayoon Pirooz, a project manager with the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke
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