MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Downtown Okemos will be seeing some changes within the upcoming year. The bridge over the Red Cedar River on Okemos Road will be getting an addition--a new pedestrian bridge.

For years, pedestrians and bikers who needed to cross north or south across the bridge used a small sidewalk on the existing bridge; however Township officials said that method was not safe.  

"The current safety concern is that walkway is only 4ft wide between the edge of the curb and the railing on the bridge," said Ray Severy, Director of Public Works and Engineering for Meridian Township. "So its narrow to start with. In the winter especially it becomes more of a safety concern because even when we clear the snow off of it it can have some icy spots and it can be slippery. If someone should slip on that four foot walk they could fall into traffic."  

According to the Michigan State Police traffic crash reporting system there were two reported bicycle-car collisions in the immediate area in 2010 and 2014, which raised more safety concerns among community members. 

"For bicyclists, they really can't ride across that," Severy said. "They would have to be in the roadway." 

At the September 16th Township Board meeting, the Board unanimously authorized a contract of more than $655,000 with Toebe Construction, LLC to build the bridge.

The new pedestrian bridge will be separate from the existing bridge, be used only by non-motorized traffic, and eliminate any connections to the current narrow walkway. The bridge will be built in New York state and brought to Meridian Township in 3 to 4 sections for assembly at the site. Severy said the bridge is expected to be completed by the spring.