A temporary bridge recently replaced the M-30 causeway bridge in Michigan that washed away
nearly a year ago during a flood causing more than $100 million worth of damage.
The $4.3 million, approximately 230-foot temporary bridge allows the Michigan Department of Transportation to reopen the roadway. It is composed of prefabricated steel bridge components and deck panels with a driving surface coated with epoxy.
The driving surface will be fully paved once the hot-mix asphalt plants reopen later in the spring.
“This bridge is the first of its kind used in the state of Michigan,” Paul C. Ajegba, state transportation director, said. “We’re very pleased to see this kind of innovation used to open an important corridor much faster. When the time comes, we will use this same bridge to maintain traffic during other projects around the state, helping to support mobility. That’s a great use of tax dollars at work.”
A bridge walk and short ceremony were held in Edenville and Tobacco townships before the bridge opened to traffic.
The flood also caused nearly $2 million in damages to the M-30 bridge over the Tittabawassee River, less than a half-mile away from the causeway.
Nearly 30 road and bridge closures resulted as a consequence of the flooding.