ORTONVILLE – Although State Rep. Ruth Johnson cautions that it’s not a done deal, the Michigan Department of Transportation has approved funding in the amount of $500,000 for repair of the South Street Bridge.
The funds are from the Federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program and the Michigan Critical Bridge Program.
“If state cutbacks happen it could affect funding,” said Johnson (R-Groveland Township), “but the local officials have done an excellent job preparing for this and that always helps.”
According to legislative aide Erika Della Santina of Johnson’s office, the bridge funding status moved from ninth on the critical bridge funding list to a funding waiting list.
“As federal funds come through, the bridge will be funded,” said Della Santina.
According to an MDOT letter to village officials, the bridge has been selected for funding under the Critical Bridge Program for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
A total of $23 million has been approved for state bridge funding in the 2003-2004 fiscal year. The Ortonville bridge is one of two moved to the funding list.
Since Ortonville previously prepared engineering plans for repairs, funding could come as early as October 2003, said MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi.
“Them having their ducks in a row will cinch the deal,” said Morosi. “The ball is in their court and things are looking good to get their bridge repaired. They’ve been approved for the funding list and they already have the engineering study approved in Lansing.”
In 2001, the village applied for the critical bridge funding to extensively repair the 63-year-old bridge. At that time, the state Critical Bridge Funding committee ranked the bridge sixth on a list of more than 100 state bridges.
In early 2002, however, the promise of funding was set back when the bridge rating dropped to ninth on the list. As a result of the dropped rating, in June of this year the village reapplied for the funding.
At the same time, a community wide campaign to rally letters to MDOT was spearheaded by local officials from the village, Brandon Township, Groveland Township, the Ortonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Johnson and State Senator John Cherry (D-Clio). The fire department and the local school district called state attention to dilapidated condition of the bridge.
“This is everyone’s downtown,” said Village President, Sue Bess. “Ruth Johnson played a major part in this and I truly think this happened because the entire community totally pulled together. Everyone, from the chamber, the schools, fire department , police, the citizens, newspapers, Groveland and Brandon townships wrote letters. Even Papa Bella’s attached flyers on pizza boxes [encouraging residents to write letters to the state].
“I am so proud of the entire community,” Bess said.
Village Manager Paul Zelenak said the estimated cost of the bridge repair is more than $720,000. MDOT will cover up to 95 percent (around $500,000) of the total cost. The village will pay for the decorative covered portion, which will not be done right away because the money is not yet budgeted.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Zelenak “This shows what community support can do. I’m proud of how the community got behind this while thing,” he said.