JACKSON, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Transportation will be closing several Jackson streets to allow crews to replace century-old railroad bridges over Jackson and Mechanic Streets.
Jackson Street, Mechanic Street, Van Buren Street and Detroit Street will be closed within a two block radius starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 14.
MDOT plans to raise the Jackson Street bridge to 14 feet 6 inches and the Mechanic Street bridge to 10 feet 7 inches, only gaining a few inches.
Spokesperson Michael Frezell said they are unable to raise the Mechanic Street bridge higher due to physical and logistical issues that would be too costly. The maligned bridge over Mechanic Street has had issues in the past with automobiles, mostly semis, that hit that bridge and get stuck even as recently as February.
“I know that’s not a lot but because of the existing infrastructure that is around Mechanic Street, we’ve got the Grand River, we have the Jackson and Lansing railroad interchange nearby, we have multiple streets in the area engineering to get that up higher is just impractical right now because it would create a high grade for trains to cross over the bridge," he said. "They’re steel wheels on steel rails they can’t take a sharp grade. So, it would just be way too costly to raise that bridge to a higher height.”
There will be some guards installed around the Mechanic Street bridge in an effort to protect the bridge from being hit.
The $32.9 million project is set to be completed on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
“Replacing these bridges will ensure smooth and safe railroad operations maintaining this vital part of the state’s economy," Frezell said. "Closing streets during this type of work is necessary to provide the safest work area possible for work crews and motorists,”
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