MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the September 17th Meridian Township Board meeting, the Board addressed the four main alternatives towards replacing two bridges on Okemos Road crossing the Red Cedar River north of Mt. Hope Road.

These alternatives were provided by the Ingham County Road Department at the June 27th Township Transportation Commission meeting.

The Ingham County Road Department is planning this reconstruction project as both bridges are functionally obsolete per current bridge design standards and have reduced structural capacity for heavy truck traffic due to advancing age and normal deterioration despite prior maintenance efforts.

The intent of the project will be to replace and/or repair the separate roadway bridges to maintain safe and efficient flow of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians along Okemos Road.

Township Supervisor Ronald J. Styka prefers one of the alternatives to build two new bridges on existing alignment and remove both existing bridges.

The Board continued to discuss what they felt was most important for repairing the bridge, and then address the aesthetic aspects to making the bridges more appealing.