MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - After a month of weather delays, the Van Atta Road Bridge is now under construction. The Ingham County Road Department is expected to remove the existing bridge on Thursday, February 13th.

The Van Atta Road Bridge has presided over the Red Ceder River since 1935. Constant erosion and vehicle damage has left the bridge with numerous holes near the outer ledges making the area safe for only one lane of traffic.

The Ingham County Road Department (ICRD) Project Engineer Daniel J. Troia went over a few details as to what renovations are in store for the bridge.

"The purposed bridge is going to be a longer bridge with a 101-foot span. It's going to have two lanes of traffic with 3-foot shoulders on either side for a total of 28 feet of width for vehicular travel." said Daniel.

Some of the other additions to the Van Atta Road Bridge include a deck dedicated bicycle travel and pedestrians, and a timber dock along the shore of the Harris Nature Center.

Van Atta Road will be closed to all traffic about 500 feet both north and south of the bridge. All residents and Harris Nature Center visitors will have access to these areas by traveling through Jolly Road instead of Grand River Avenue.

The newly renovated bridge is expected to re-open to the public in May 2014.