The Ann Arbor Bridges project has been dedicated in Michigan, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Rep. John Dingell and other state and local officials in attendance.
The $22.8 million project improves safety and provides a better connection between the east and west sides of the city. It relied on nearly $16 million in federal funds, including a $13.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program.
The project, which began in 2011, was the city’s highest transportation priority. It created jobs for hundreds of area workers by replacing two bridges on East Stadium Boulevard over South State Street and the Ann Arbor Railroad, improving access to I-94 and the downtown business district.
The bridges, carrying an estimated 17,000 drivers and nearly 200 pedestrians and bicyclists each day, provide one of the few major links between the east and west sides of the city and are critical parts of one of the most heavily traveled routes in Washtenaw County.
The project provided for improved area roads, as well as the addition of bicycle lanes, street lighting, sidewalks and pedestrian tunnels. It also provided for the replacement of storm sewers and a water main near Rose-White Park.
“Upgrading our infrastructure allows us to both put people to work and strengthen the economy,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “This project makes travel safer for Ann Arbor residents while offering greater transportation choices.”
The bridges, about 350 feet apart, were built in 1928. At the time of their replacement, neither met modern design standards and lacked needed horizontal and vertical clearances.
