Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials said construction of a temporary M-30 bridge over the Tobacco River is underway in the wake of extensive corridor damage during May flooding.
The $4.3 million project would be open to traffic in mid-February. MDOT staff maintain a temporary bridge was the best use of federal emergency aid and supported the agency’s mission of restoring mobility as quickly as possible.
The M-30 causeway bridge near Stryker’s Lakeside Marina was washed away following the Edenville dam breach, officials said, noting flooding and dam failure resulted in damage of two M-30 bridges and the Curtis Road bridge, all within one mile of each other.
“Reopening this second M-30 bridge is vital to our business,” Edenville Market owner Gurbachan Singh said. “We have really struggled to stay in business since the flood damage, and every bridge that reopens helps our business a little more.”
MDOT estimates the M-30 corridor will be restored within nine months of the initial bridge loss. Standard bridge construction requires years of design work and review to ensure the appropriate size structure is installed to meet transportation needs for the foreseeable future.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will be working in concert to secure the existing Edenville Dam to ensure future flooding does not endanger area residents and businesses in danger while addressing ongoing impacts on infrastructure and natural resources.