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Bridge completion expected in June

WELLS — The Michigan Department of Transportation has entered the final stretch of work on the U.S. 2 and 41 bridge over the Escanaba River, according to MDOT Communications Representative for the Superior Region Dan Weingarten.

The project should be completed by the end of June.

Weingarten said the work that still needs to be done on the bridge is dependent on weather conditions and temperatures.

“So, these are projected — not firm — dates,” he said in regards to MDOT’s timeline for the remaining work on the bridge.

Weingarten said work on the bridge was ongoing. Zenith Tech — the project’s prime contractor — was finishing up the removal of formwork from under the bridge deck. The remainder of the bridge’s curb was also poured on the bridge deck in April.

However, Weingarten said most of the work that needs to be done on the bridge cannot take place at the moment.

“There is only a small amount of work that can be completed in the next few weeks,” he said.

Concrete was scheduled to be poured for fence post foundations next to the bridge’s non-motorized path early this month, and underground utility work has been scheduled for this week.

Work on the bridge is set to enter full swing the week of May 28. Then, Weingarten said crews should be able to work on final grading and get ready for paving.

“In early June, crews will pave the eastbound lanes and the non-motorized path. When this is completed, traffic will be switched to the eastbound lanes,” he said. Weingarten added MDOT will notify the public of the traffic change in advance.

In mid-June, crews are expected to pave the last course of asphalt on the bridge’s westbound lanes and activate the traffic signal at County Road 426. Intelligent traffic system devices, which will be used as part of a system letting drivers know when conditions that could allow for ice formation on the bridge are present, will also be installed then.

The bridge will get a fresh coat of paint in June, as well.

“The Escanaba River Bridge will receive a coat of paint in a light beige ‘parchment’ color,” Weingarten said.

Local motorists should be able to start reaping the benefits of the bridge project in the near future.

“All lanes are scheduled to be open to traffic in late June,” Weingarten said. All work on the project is anticipated to be complete by June 28.

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