The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Motorists adjusting to Main St. Bridge project
By Elaine Owsley, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
From now to November, at least by the initial forecast, the Main Street Bridge in Dexter will be a challenge for the 18,000 drivers who use it each day.Although one lane will be open most of the time, there will be delays and inconvenience for those who use it on a regular basis as the $3.52-million project moves along.
Advertisement
The current restrictions are nothing new to a couple of local entities, which rely on transport over the bridge. The lowering of load limits, how many tons of weight can "safely" cross the bridge, has been going on for a year, affecting the Dexter Community Schools and the Dexter Fire Department on a daily basis.
Since last May, Dexter school busses, which are capable of carrying 71 passengers, exceed load limits for the bridge empty. The big busses weigh 19,500 pounds without passenger load, or nearly 10 tons. The limit for the bridge has been lowered to 7 tons. The restrictions mean that 13 of the bus routes are affected morning, noon and afternoon.
In each case, the time lost to reroute an average of 2.76 miles has to be added to each run.
"It's a challenge to try and limit time on the bus and student loads", according to Transportation Director Robert Poor.
Also affected by the limits are the big rigs from the Dexter Fire Department - especially the "pumper" with its heavy load of water.Special "dispensation" was granted to the Fire Department in that they can pass over the bridge "outbound" on emergency runs, but must go by way of Dexter Ann Arbor Road, Parker, Shield, Baker, etc. on the return, according to Firefighter Michael Grissom.
Besides the problems caused by the bridge, most recently, the "Frost Laws" and their own particular restrictions caused changes in travel for large vehicles. Frost Laws are the seasonal weight restrictions to help preserve and protect the road systems throughout Michigan.Each county has its own time period for restrictions during the thawing and freezing of springtime weather. We see the results of that phenomenon in potholes developing in asphalt roads.Axel weight during these times is reduced by 35 percent and speed limits are also reduced for every vehicle over 10,000 pounds gross weight, down to 35 miles per hour. Once again, any heavy vehicle is impacted.The frost law problem is one reason Cribley Drilling's big rigs are parked at the Dexter Mill during these restrictions. Between town and their headquarters on Dexter Chelsea Road, are the roads affected.While the bridge project may well finish by November, it still requires changes in bus routes for the beginning of the fall semester at Dexter schools, since student pick-ups change, and continued round about ways to get home for the Fire Department. Everyone is hoping for a quick return to a "normal," which hasn't existed for at least a year already.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
TOP JOBS
