Alpena’s Bagley street bridge will get rehabilitated

ALPENA, Mich. – It was all smiles for the Alpena County Road Commission upon hearing the millions that will get poured into rehabilitating the Bagley street bridge.

Up to 17–thousand cars, and 450 semi–trucks, pass through the Bagley Bridge on a daily basis. The $3.3 million dollars will go toward replacing and widening the aging overpass. The updated bridge will include a pedestrian lane and it may even allow access for snowmobiles or other non–motorized vehicles.

“When the bridge was designed back in the 70’s, they didn’t anticipate the amount of traffic that we’re seeing now,” says road commission managing director Larry Orcutt. “Even though we haven’t had any major safety impacts, there’s been much concern from the residents.”

Orcutt says there isn’t enough distance between the existing side walk and the large trucks that pass by. He also says Bagley Street has one of the highest traffic volumes in northeast Michigan, excluding state highways.

“Essentially, it’s projected to be a 6.3 million dollar project,” says Orcutt, “that’s why we feel very fortunate we were able to secure 3.3 of that from the bridge fund.”

Construction on the bridge project is slated for 2021.