The Lafayette Bridge in Bay City has had its fair share of closures. But the state and federal government have decided that its time is up.
$73 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is going towards finally replacing the bridge, which closed twenty times last year.
The city has been seeking funding for years and the grant funding now will help the whole state, said Jocelyn Garza, Bay area spokesperson for Michigan Department of Transportation.
“There are a number of bridge needs around our state, and this frees up 73 million dollars for us to commit to other projects around the state," she said.
The constant cycle of repairs had become a nuisance, Garza said.
"They have to leave the bridge in the up position so that it can accommodate water traffic as opposed to vehicle traffic, so in those types of situations that’s really frustrating for motorists," she said.
Garza said the Lafayette Bridge was the only recipient of federal infrastructure funding. Construction on the new bridge will likely begin next spring, but she said it’s hard to tell right now when it will be completed.