Although Michigan Department of Transportation staff have given some consideration to the crumbling condition of the Mitchell Street Bridge’s railings, a Gaylord-based engineer for the agency said there currently are no official plans for repairs to the Petoskey structure.
Occasionally, citizens contact the News-Review to report concerns about the condition of concrete on the bridge, which carries U.S. 31 across the Bear River.
Along with funding MDOT bridge engineer Tony Olson said the bridge’s historical status also presents constraints that his department will need to address if repairs are to be scheduled. He and other MDOT staff have noted that the issues on the bridge are cosmetic, and that it’s sound from a structural standpoint.
The bridge, which dates back to 1930, underwent refurbishing in the late 1990s that involved a new deck, flower planters along the sides, a restoration of the railings and cosmetic freshening of the support structures.
Patching material was used along the railings in areas where concrete had decayed, with some of these patches loosening within a few years as the weather passed through freeze and thaw cycles.
During a visit to the bridge earlier this week, numerous metal reinforcing rods were visible in many areas of the concrete railing that had decayed.
Olson said there’s no clear cost estimate or timetable for repair of the railings. With funding currently tight for many state agencies, Olson said locating dollars for that project could be a struggle.
Although MDOT has funds available for routine rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure, Olson said these aren’t geared toward railings. Transportation enhancement funds — made up mostly of dollars passed along to the state agency from the federal government — may offer more promise, but “we have had no promises from anybody as of yet.”
Consulting with the state’s historic preservation office would be an early step for MDOT in planning any railing repairs.
“They’re going to dictate a lot of the design aspects that we can adhere to,” Olson said.
Letters of support from local government can be helpful to MDOT in lining up funds for that type of project, he added.
The bridge’s condition has been a discussion topic in meetings between MDOT and Petoskey city staff. City manager Dan Ralley expects Petoskey could furnish a letter of support.
“The city is very interested in working with MDOT to find a solution to ensure that the bridge's historic character is maintained as part of needed repairs to the railing and sidewalk,” he said.
Meanwhile, the city and its contractors are continuing with work to bring new recreational amenities to the Bear River corridor this year. Petoskey Department of Parks and Recreation director Al Hansen said the city has not moved forward to install amenities that were planned directly beneath the bridge. For example, a pedestrian bridge across the river was moved farther south.
Hansen noted the possibility that work may need to be done on the Mitchell Street Bridge in the future, and said the city doesn’t want to invest in amenities below that potentially could be damaged during that work.
Despite the concrete decay along the bridge’s railings, Hansen said falling debris shouldn’t be an issue for those using the recreation corridor below.
“You get small pieces that are flaking, but nothing has ever come down that is large that I’m aware of,” he said.
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