MDOT's March 31, 2016 Press Release:

Contact: Kari Arend, MDOT Office of Communications
Fast facts:
- On March 10, the 8 Mile Road bridge over northbound US-23 was demolished due to damage suffered from an earlier crash.
- The 8 Mile Road bridge will be repaired and reopened to traffic this summer.
- Construction and travel information is available on the MDOT Mi Drive website and app:
www.michigan.gov/drive.

March 31, 2016 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in cooperation with Northfield Township, has announced that starting this spring the 8 Mile Road bridge over northbound US-23 in Washtenaw County will be repaired and reopened to traffic this summer. Reopening the bridge in 2016 will restore emergency response time and assist businesses in the community during the busy summer travel months.

The bridge beams suffered significant damage  after being struck by a tractor trailer hauling an oversized load on March 10. It was determined that the structure over northbound US-23 needed to be removed in order to be safely reopened to traffic. The demolition and clean-up was completed in one day and US-23 reopened within 24 hours. MDOT will seek reimbursement from the trucking company for 100 percent of the cost of the bridge repairs.

 

Crews will repair the existing 8 Mile Road span over northbound US-23 using an expedited contracting process. Then, next year, a larger road and bridge project will begin on US-23 in Washtenaw County  that includes a new 8 Mile Road bridge and upgrades to the interchange. The new bridge will be built just to the north of the existing structure while traffic is maintained on the existing 8 Mile Road bridge. Once the new 8 Mile Road bridge is complete, the existing 8 Mile Road bridge will be removed.

          

During construction this spring, 8 Mile Road will remain closed and impacts on US-23 traffic will be kept to a minimum as lane closures will occur at non-peak times, such as overnight and weekends. More information about the work this spring will be available closer to the start of the project.

 

Ann Arbor News (MLive): MDOT to rebuild 8 Mile Bridge over US 23 this spring, Lindsay Knake, March 31, 2016

"The bridge should reopen to traffic this summer after an an expedited contracting process. Construction closures overnights and weekends will minimize the impact to U.S. 23 traffic.  MDOT officials hope to have a construction dated planned by mid-April, said spokeswoman Kari Arend."

Livingston Daily Press-Argus: Demolished 8 Mile overpass to be repaired, Jennifer Eberbach, 3-31-2016

WILX-TV 10: MDOT makes plans to replace bridge over U.S. 23, Associated Press (AP), 3-31-2016

WHMI FM 93.5: Destroyed Overpass To Be Replaced This Spring, JK, 3-31-2016

 

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