A bridge in Waterford Township has been closed to traffic and pedestrians after a hole was discovered in the roadway.
The county road commission is investigating how the hole developed on the Pontiac Lake Road bridge between Irwin Drive and North Pine Grove Avenue. An estimated 7,380 vehicles use this bridge daily.
The bridge was among those scheduled to be replaced this season, with construction starting on June 3.
No one was hurt when the hole appeared, according to a road commission spokesperson. Because the work involves a waterway, the road commission must coordinate the work with state environmental officials.
The $3.5 million bridge replacement project, paid for from the state’s local bridge fund and matching road commission dollars, includes:
• Replacing the current bridge over the Clinton River, including the current culvert with a precast concrete three-sided culvert and a north side pedestrian crossing.
• Removing the existing pedestrian bridge.
• Storm sewer improvements.
• New guardrails.
• Asphalt paving of the bridge approaches
• Relocating the water main.
Trees were removed from the area in April to prepare for construction by Shelby Township-based Z Contractors.
The weather-dependent work will take until at least mid-October to complete.
During construction, the bridge will be completely closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Residents and business owners will continue to have access to their properties east and west of the bridge.
The detour for drivers is Crescent Lake Road to Highland Road / M-59 to Airport Road, back to Pontiac Lake Road and vice versa.
Complete project details are online at https://www.rcocweb.org/683/Pontiac-Lake-Road-Bridge-Replacement-ove.
For questions or comments, call the road commission office at (877) 858-4804 or email dcsmail@rcoc.org.