COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A pedestrian bridge to replace the soon-to-be demolished Old U.S. 12 Bridge maybe put in place sooner than earlier expected.
Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker is expected to ask the City Council on Monday night to approve the purchase of a steel pedestrian bridge for over $61,000 from MacKenzie Company of Ann Arbor.
MacKenzie was the contractor selected to remove the Old U.S. 12 Bridge. Baker says MacKenzie suggested they could offer a reduced price for the replacement pedestrian bridge since they will be on site to remove the old bridge and not incur additional costs.
The new bridge would have a timber deck. It would span 72 feet and be ten feet wide. Many local residents have commented that a new bridge is needed to prevent pedestrians and bicyclists from using the MDOT U.S. 12 bridge, especially with traffic traveling at nearly 55 miles an hour nearby.
If approved, the money for the bridge would come from existing general fund reserves.
As for the removal of the old bridge, work will not start until at least April. Baker says with the wild swings in weather over the past week and the forecast of further warming, MDOT has now implemented annual frost laws for State highways effective last Monday. This will delay the arrival of the large crane that will be used for the removal of the bridge and start of the project overall until April or as weather and road conditions permit.
