JACKSON, MI – A pair of Jackson bridges famous for vehicles getting stuck under them are one step closer to being replaced.
A $23-million U.S. Department of Transportation grant will help fund the new bridges over Jackson and Mechanic streets near downtown Jackson, along with other rail-related projects in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is matching the grant with an additional $23 million.
The Jackson Street bridge, built in 1902, is being raised from 11 feet, 9 inches to 14 feet, 6 inches. The 10-foot Mechanic Street bridge, from 1901, can only be raised about eight inches due to the grade of the tracks and surrounding infrastructure, MDOT officials said.
Bridge strikes are relatively common both places, MDOT officials said – with each bridge being hit by traffic below roughly a half-dozen times per year.
Temporary shoring is currently required to support both structures.
"They're past their useful life and they do need to be replaced," said MDOT spokesman Michael Frezell.
The bridge replacements are tentatively scheduled for summer 2021, costing roughly $14.5 million.
MDOT will also replace 15 miles of rail east of Jackson with help from the USDOT funding. The new track will allow trains to travel near 110 mph in certain sections – as they already do west of Kalamazoo.
Current speeds are often around 79 mph in select areas between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Frezell said.