Ortonville – For more than two years village officials were hoping to build a cover on the South Street bridge.
On Monday, May 12 the council decided not to pursue constructing the covered portion of the bridge, at this time.
Recently state critical bridge funding was approved and assigned to repair the 55 year old Ortonville bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation funds will cover up to 95 percent of the bridge reconstruction, but will not supplement any of the cost to cover the bridge.
Earlier this year Village Manager Paul Zelenak said the total estimated cost of the bridge repair is over $720,000. MDOT will cover up almost $500,000 of the total cost.
Craig Schripsema, Project Manager for the village engineering firm Rowe Incorporated told council that the current cost to the village for bridge cover would be approximately $176,000. He also gave council projected costs if the bridge were to be covered after the bridge reconstruction was complete.
Although it would be more cost effective to build the cover at the time of the state funded reconstruction, council agreed not to commit to the decorative cover at this time.
Council did, however, approve for Schripsema to pursue plans to reconstruct the bridge in timber, with reinforcement to accomodate the cover at a later date.