NEWBERRY, MI — The Luce County Road (CR) 501 bridge over the Little Two Hearted River, under construction since this spring, was recently completed and reopened to traffic as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) bridge bundling program continues to provide support to local agencies working to improve conditions of their bridges around the state.
The bridge, completed about a month ahead of schedule, was part of a five-bridge bundle in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. The $11.6 million design-build package includes replacement of bridges in Benzie, Luce, Marquette, Missaukee, and Presque Isle counties in phase two of this innovative program to assist local road agencies. This phase was paid for with supplemental COVID-19 relief funds appropriated in September 2021.
"This bridge is located on Luce CR 501, a gravel primary road that serves as one of the links to the Crisp Point Lighthouse, a popular tourist destination," said Mike McTiver, Engineer-Manager for the Luce County Road Commission.
McTiver described the old bridge as a weight-restricted steel truss structure with a wooden plank deck. "The MDOT bridge bundling program has been a great partnership to restore full functionality to bridges for public use," he said.
MDOT continues to work on phase two and three bridge bundling projects across the state in collaboration with local agency bridge owners. In addition to these five bridge replacements, phase two of the program includes removing five closed bridges and the ongoing replacement of two bridges in Wayne County.
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Phase three includes replacing one bridge in Iosco County that is nearing completion, as well as bridge bundles that will be let for bids in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The 2024 bundle includes replacing two bridges in Allegan and Ottawa counties and removing one bridge in Benzie County. The 2025 bundle will include replacing five bridges in Branch, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, and Monroe counties. In 2026, the bundle will include replacing another five bridges in Bay, Huron, Lapeer, and Saginaw counties and the city of Flint.
