• Photo of similar arch bridge design.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - A portion of Okemos Road will soon be safer for pedestrians.

At the September 16th Township Board meeting, the Board unanimously authorized a contract of more than $655,000 with Toebe Construction, LLC to build a new arched pedestrian bridge over the Red Cedar River on Okemos Road.

Meridian Township Director of Public Works and Engineering Raymond Severy spoke at the meeting and said that the old camel back bridge as constructed is simply not safe enough for walkers and bikers to use.

"It's really not intended to be a sidewalk. It's only about 3 to 4 feet wide, and, so, when people use it in the summer, it's kind of ok because it's dry. It's not slippery," Severy said. "But, in the winter, even when we try to get the snow off, it can be slippery, and it's very narrow and, as was mentioned at the meeting, if someone were to fall off they'd fall right into the traffic lane."

Cameron Bridge Works, LLC will be building the bridge in Elmira, New York. The pieces will be brought to Meridian Township for assembly.

The bridge foundations are expected to be constructed this fall and the bridge will be put in place in March 2015.