Politics & Government

Unsafe, Deteriorating Bridge Closed in West Bloomfield

The support beams are severely rusted, including one that is no longer attached to the bridge deck.

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WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP – An 85-year-old bridge that spans a Walnut Lake canal in West Bloomfield Township has been closed indefinitely after engineers determined it could no longer handle the already reduced load capacity.

The Road Commission for Oakland County announce the closure of the bridge on Putnam Drive north of Walnut Lake Road and west of Inkster Road Friday.

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The structure is severely deteriorated, with badly rusted bridge beams, including one that is only partially attached to the structure.

Road Commission bridge consultants and the Great Lakes Engineering Group inspected the bridge and determined that support beams can no longer handle the already reduced load capacity, and there are holes in the bridge deck, according to a news release.

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The bridge was on an accelerated inspection schedule, meaning it was inspected frequently in recent years due to its condition.

At this point, funding has not been identified for bridge replacement, and the bridge is not scheduled to be rebuilt at this time, the Road Commission said.

The bridge was constructed in 1931 and mainly carries residential traffic. Alternate routes are available within the subdivision.

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