BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Construction on the 100th Street bridge in southern Kent County will begin Monday, meaning it will be closed to both directions of traffic.
The Michigan Department of Transportation will shut down the bridge at 7 p.m. Monday. Work is expected to wrap up around Memorial Day.
To detour, eastbound drivers can get on southbound US-131, get off at 142nd Street, and then immediately get back on the highway and go north back to 100th Street. Westbound drivers can detour along 84th Street via the highway.
Additionally, there will be nightly lane closures (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) on northbound US-131 through May 3.
Crews will be replacing two beams in the bridge, which MDOT spokesman John Richard told 24 Hour News 8 was a "quick fix" to get both directions of 100th Street back open.
The westbound lane of the overpass has been closed since January after two semi-trucks hauling tall loads hit the bridge deck on the same morning. The bridge has been struck by tall loads several more times since then.
The overpass is unusually low, but it's been that way for decades, it’s listed in trucker manuals and it's clearly labeled. Why so many trucks are hitting it now still isn't entirely clear, though one suggestion is that there are more inexperienced truck drivers on the roads.
Later this year, MDOT will do some resurfacing work meant to give the bridge a couple more inches' clearance. The state plans to replace the bridge in 2020.
Repairs to the bridge deck are expected to be covered by the insurance of the truckers who damaged it.