The Michigan Department of Transportation has closed a portion of the ramp from northbound Interstate 75 to the Lodge Freeway (M-10) due to weakened support beams.

According to MDOT spokesman Diane Cross, bridge inspectors on Monday discovered that rust had significantly weakened two of four steel I-beams supporting the structure.

“It’s right at northbound I-75 where M-10 splits,” Cross said. “They discovered a number of safety issues and closed the ramp right away. It will be closed at least a week to get a good look at the situation, and we will be putting in supports in the meantime.”

According to MDOT, the detour is to head south on the Lodge to the Howard exit and then over the freeway and back to northbound M-10.

Cross said there was no absolute way to know if the ramp would have collapsed.

“But at the same time, we’re talking about half the support beams being rusted out,” Cross said. “This is a perfect example of our aging infrastructure. If we don’t have enough money to fix the problems, we’re going to end up eventually closing roads.

“But we will come up with money to repair this ramp.”

In Lansing, the state Senate debating whether to increase the amount of spending in a House-passed $450 million road funding package that heavily relies on shifting around existing state tax dollars to make it “revenue neutral.”

The Senate Infrastructure Modernization Committee is scheduled to take testimony Tuesday afternoon on the House bills.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140520/METRO05/305200052#ixzz32GYu3nVi

bad bridges bad roads Bridge closing fix the roads increased transportation funding infrastructure funding Michigan Department of Transportation state Legislature