TRAVERSE CITY — State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) is continuing to push for transparency and updates on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ plans to replace the pedestrian bridge over U.S. 31 near Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park.
According to a Sept. 16 news release from Coffia‘s office, information provided by the DNR in response to her questions about project cost, bridge placement and the status of an insurance claim tied to the damaged bridge.
Cost estimates
The DNR told Coffia that preliminary cost estimates for the bridge, based on early engineering designs, range from $6.75 million to $8 million, according to DNR Legislative Liaison Chris Semrinec. Concrete and steel are expected to be the largest expenses, and the department recommended adding at least 5% annually to account for inflation.
The estimates do not include the cost of land acquisition, utility relocation or environmental cleanup, which could add to the total. “We need a realistic price tag,” Coffia said. “Then we can explore the best funding sources to pay for a new ADA-compliant bridge.”
Site location
The original bridge cannot be rebuilt in the same location due to its proximity to the park’s new entrance and traffic light, part of an $8.5 million American Rescue Plan Act improvement project already approved by the federal government.
Coffia said she supports using DNR-owned land on both sides of the park for the new bridge and asked the department to consider any legal or safety limits tied to placement near the new signal.
Semrinec said there are no statutory line-of-sight requirements for pedestrian bridges near signaled crossings, and placement decisions are left to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s engineers.
Insurance claim
The previous bridge was struck by a vehicle on July 17, leading to its closure. The DNR filed an insurance claim in coordination with MDOT to cover costs associated with stabilizing the structure and ensuring vehicle safety on U.S. 31.
Semrinec said the claim process is ongoing and that the bridge’s age and depreciation mean any insurance payout will likely only cover MDOT’s immediate repair costs.
Next steps
Coffia said she continues to meet regularly with Semrinec, DNR Director Scott Bowen, state Sen. John Damoose and state Rep. John Roth to discuss the project’s progress.
“We are bringing everyone to the table and leaving no stone unturned,” Coffia said. “I am committed to seeing it through and being as transparent as possible by sharing as many details with my constituents as I have access to as this process unfolds.”