MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Winter weather has delayed the Van Atta Bridge construction project over the Red Cedar River which was originally scheduled to begin in January.

The Ingham County Road Department (ICRD) has announced that construction will begin the week of February 10, weather permitting.

The project will consist of
replacing the existing 60-foot long bridge that was constructed in 1935 with a 100-foot long bridge that will straddle the existing bridge foundations. The project will also feature extra deck width for future dedicated sidewalk on the west side of the bridge, per the township’s non-motorized master plan, and a canoe launch along the shore of the Harris Nature Center.

Van Atta Road will be closed to all traffic about 500 feet north and south of the bridge during construction. Since the bridge will be closed during the construction, residents and those wishing to visit the Harris Nature Center will have access to these areas by using Jolly Road instead of Grand River Avenue.

The new bridge is expected to be re-opened to traffic by early June 2014.

The project is being funded by the State Local Bridge Program and ICRD. The construction contract has been awarded to Davis Construction of Lansing, Michigan, at the low bid of $940,000.