Local agencies across Michigan deal with roughly 900 bridges that are either closed, have load limits, or are in poor, serious, or critical condition. The Pilot Bridge Bundle Project addressed this wide ranging problem; a $24.2 million project that successfully bundled 19 bridges together that shared a similar improvement type and enabling swift superstructure replacement to bring those bridges into a state of good condition quickly. The project’s successful completion showcased the advantages of bundling, simultaneously enhancing multiple local agency bridges in a fast-tracked timeframe. Several communities benefited from this bridge bundling endeavor, enabling safer and wide-ranging movement of goods and services, which were previously restricted by the old structural conditions. Those improvements came at no cost to the local agencies, which could have otherwise taken several years to address if they had to fund them on their own. This allowed them to channel their funds and efforts into other critical local needs. Many of these bridges were in rural areas, and the improved condition facilitated the use of agricultural equipment on the bridges, supporting farming operations and the local economy as a result.
America's Transportation Awards 