With a combination of MDOT Local Agency Bridge Program, road, and CMAQ funding to optimize the traffic signals in the corridor, Ingham County awarded Fishbeck a contract for replacing the existing northbound and southbound Okemos Road bridges over the Red Cedar River and associated road work. This project involved extensive coordination with Meridian Township and their consultant on the Village of Okemos downtown redevelopment project; the Ingham County Drain Commission and their consultant for a County drain’s relocation, the MS4 underground stormwater management system for this project, and the Village of Okemos redevelopment project; and various utility companies for relocating their facilities in the construction influence area.
As part of the design engineering, Fishbeck designed a single bridge that replaces the existing two bridges. The location of this project is between two Meridian Township parks and adjacent to an existing truss bridge; therefore, aesthetics were crucial. The replacement was constructed by part-width staged construction. The proposed bridge includes a left-turn lane and camelback bridge barrier railings that mimic the historic camelback railings on the existing northbound bridge and a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge outside of the camelback. Fishbeck used modular block retaining walls throughout the project to correct grade differentials. The retaining walls and the proposed bridge include matching concrete form liners, and the entire exposed surfaces of the modular block retaining walls and proposed bridge coated with a light gray and gray concrete surface coating to enhance the aesthetics and protect the concrete.
