Company pitches toll to fix Ferrysburg bridge

FERRYSBURG, Mich. (WOOD) — There may be a fix for a failing bridge in Ferrysburg: A company has suggested turning it into a toll bridge.

The city council will consider adding tolls to Smith’s Bridge, which is in such rough shape that it had to beshut down earlier this year.

“The concern is that the top of the box beam is deteriorating to the point where a tire could go through and fall into that cavity,” Ferrysburg City Manager Craig Bessinger explained the safety concerns surrounding the bridge.

According to the city, it will cost $13 million to fix the 447-foot bridge that was built in 1972, and officials say they are running out of options to cover that cost.

Bessinger said that the city was notified in 2016 the bridge needed repairs. Since then, the city has been applying for state and federal grants. The governortoured the bridgethis summer promising to pay to fix it, but themoney never came.

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