PONTIAC, Mich. (WWJ) - Emergency repairs have forced the closure of a heavily used bridge in Oakland County after it was deemed unsafe by officials during an inspection in July.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge, just east of Woodward Ave. in Pontiac was shut down Tuesday night in both directions indefinitely, with roadblocks and barriers in place to block all traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians, from crossing.
WWJ's Mike Campbell reported that rusted-through steel supports, cracked concrete abutments, soil erosion, and exposed utilities were all noted in the inspection, which the bridge ultimately failed last month.
Campbell said the bridge on the Bloomfield Township and Pontiac border is heavily used and feeds directly to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
According to state traffic reports, the bridge sees 12,000 vehicles pass over it every year.
Further complicating the process, Campbell reports the MLK Jr. bridge -- which was built in 1976 -- was constructed over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad and will now involve those at the local, state and federal level.
While officials say they hope the bridge is a "fast-track" repair, construction to fix the bridge is not excepted until at least early 2023 to the tune of $6 million, Campbell said.
“The bridge is in very difficult shape,” said Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel to WDIV.
Greimel said to Local 4 that his office is committed to repairing ailing infrastructure
“No question,” Greimel said. “This is just one of many examples that illustrates the need of massive investments and all kinds of infrastructure.”
Greimel added that the state will be covering roughly 95% of the $6 million repair cost.
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