1. Is it true that there are there two bridges along East Stadium that have to be replaced?
Yes. There are two, adjacent bridges along East Stadium Boulevard. The bridge over South State Street was built in 1917 and does not meet today’s standards for under clearance, is in poor condition, and must be replaced. Next to and west of the State Street bridge, the bridge over the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks was built in 1928. It is in fair condition but also does not meet today’s standards for under clearance and must be replaced as well.
The two bridges are approximately 300 feet apart; and replacing one at the proper height will require the replacement of the other bridge in order to meet new height and grade requirements. Replacing the bridge over South State Street without replacing the bridge over the railroad will leave behind a non-conforming bridge over the railroad tracks with steep slopes from the new bridge to the older bridge.
2. In the past few years, what has been done to replace the bridges?
In September 2006, the city began a preliminary project design for the replacement of the East Stadium Boulevard bridges, reconstruction of East Stadium Boulevard from Kipke Drive to South Main Street, construction of new sidewalks and bike lanes on East Stadium Boulevard and South Main Street, storm sewer upgrades and raw water line replacement.
In 2008, it became evident that the bridge over South State Street was experiencing a more rapid rate of deterioration and weight limits were adjusted. In 2009, the news about the Federal Recovery Act, a.k.a. the Stimulus funds, was shared with the public. Those events influenced the City’s decision to focus on the project design for the replacement of the bridges only, and to pursue federal funds for the replacement of the bridges.
3. Why hasn’t the bridge been replaced or fixed?
In prior years, both bridges at East Stadium Boulevard have been repaired several times. The most recent deterioration to one of beams at the bridge over South State Street will require major and costly repairs. The city is prepared to make the necessary repairs to the beam, however first city staff must determine whether or not there will be federal funds available to replace the entire bridge. Moreover, the city must keep in mind that repairing one old beam will not guarantee the 92-year old bridge structure to be free of defects for a very long time.
4. Why have the lane reductions been placed on the bridge?
In January 2009 during an inspection of the East Stadium Bridge over South State Street, city engineers noticed a small deflection in one of the beams under the eastbound traffic. To ensure the safety of the public, city staff decided to remove the weight of the traffic from the top of the damaged beam and reduce the traffic to two lanes on the north side of the bridge only.
5. Is the bridge safe to drive on?
The bridge has been carefully evaluated and adjustments to weight limits have been made to assure public safety. At this time and with the recent traffic lane reductions that are now in place, the bridge is safe to drive on. City staff will continue to inspect the bridge over State Street and may take additional precautionary steps in the future to ensure the safety of the public.
6. Why couldn’t money spent to build a new 15th District Court and Police Facility be used to replace the bridge?
The new 15th District Court and Police Facility project, for the most part, is paid for by proceeds from bonds that were sold to construct this project. The repayments of the bonds are scheduled to come from the future savings in the rental fees that the City currently must pay for several city offsite operations. The operations will be incorporated into the new Ann Arbor Municipal Center footprint once completed. Without the new facility, the city would need to continue to pay for offsite leases to house these operations and there would be no rental cost savings to repay the bonds that have been issued.
Bridge replacement projects throughout the county are funded in large part by the appropriate State and Federal Highway Transportation Funds.
7. Has the city needed to spend money to keep the bridge open vs. simply replacing it?
The city has spent a relatively small amount of money to monitor the bridges status and adjust traffic control to assure public safety and minimize deterioration. However, the two bridges at East Stadium Boulevard must be replaced at the first opportunity. The bridge design work is currently underway with an anticipated completion date in January 2010. Should state and federal highway transportation funds for the construction of the project become available then the City will proceed with the replacement of the bridges beginning as early as 2010.
While the City is waiting for federal and state funds for the replacement of the bridges, which long term is in the public’s best interest because safety can be ensured, the City will maintain the traffic over the bridges.
8. How will the city know if the bridge continues to deteriorate?
The bridge structure is being closely monitored by city engineering staff.
9. What will happen if the bridge continues to deteriorate?
Further deterioration of the bridge structure may result in additional restrictions on the traffic weight limits, reduction in the number of traffic lanes from two to one with traffic in one direction only, or the complete closure of the bridges until the beam is repaired or the bridges can be replaced. The bridge closure, if required, may also result in closure of South State Street at East Stadium Boulevard. See tentative detour plans at the bottom of the page.
10. How can citizens stay up to date with the status of the bridge?
The city will continue to issue news releases to the media and will post information on its Web site to help citizens stay informed about any changes to the East Stadium bridges. In addition, citizens can subscribe to receive e-mail updates when new information is available by visiting the city’s Web site, www.a2gov.org, and clicking on the red envelope in the upper right corner of the screen. If a change in traffic flow becomes necessary on the bridge, the city would place signage at the bridge site to inform motorists.
11. Whom can I contact with specific questions about the bridge?
Questions can be directed to Homayoon Pirooz at (734) 794-6411 or Michael Nearing at (734) 794-6410 x43635.
12. What is the city doing to fix or replace the bridge?
The city is simultaneously working on two options to pursue depending on available funding:
Option 1 includes replacing the bridges, which requires the city to first prepare a bridge design, detailed construction plans and a final construction cost estimate. These planning and design items are scheduled for completion in January 2010. The city also is actively pursuing federal funds to support the construction phase of the bridges replacement.
Option 2 involves city staff finalizing repair plans within the next week if a short-term repair of the bridge is necessary and in the public’s best interest.
13. How long until the bridge is fixed or replaced?
To replace the bridges, city staff must prepare a bridge design, detailed construction plans and a final construction cost estimate, which are scheduled for completion in January 2010. The City also is actively pursuing federal funds for the construction phase of the bridges replacement. Once the funds for the construction of the project become available, but not earlier than January 2010, the construction may begin and last about last 18 months.
14. Will the city have to close the bridge?
Further deterioration of the bridge structure may result in additional restrictions on the traffic weight limits, reduction in the number of traffic lanes from two to one with traffic in one direction only, or the complete closure of the bridges until either the beam is repaired or the bridges are replaced. The bridge closure, if required, may also result in closure of South State Street at East Stadium Boulevard. See tentative detour plans at the bottom of the page.
15. Will the bridge remain open for UM home football games?
Whether the bridge will be open during UM home football games will depend on the condition of the bridge at that time. Any changes to the status of the bridge will be available on the city’s Web site at www.a2gov.org.
Detour Maps for Tentative Stadium Bridge Closure
East/Westbound (pdf)
South/Northbound (pdf)