Go bridge or go home: Michigan’s bridge problem and how to fix it

Michigan’s 83 county road agencies maintain 5,700 bridges, which is 52% of the bridges in the state. One in eight Michigan bridges are obsolete in design. Many are rated serious, critical or closed, and have weight restrictions that may interfere with commerce or emergency vehicles. We need a solution.

Bridge bundling is an innovative, cost-efficient bridge construction practice that groups “like” bridges by location, size or bridge type as one bid package. The projected savings could be up to 30%.

CRA is already working with the Michigan Department of Transportation on a 19-bridge bundle pilot project, funded with $23 million of federal funds to be constructed in 2021-2022.

Recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed $300 million for a FY 2022 bridge bundling initiative to restore, rebuild or remove about 120 local bridges. CRA applauds the proposal. County road agencies are ready to get to work!