Ann Arbor officials are planning to hold a brief dedication ceremony for the new East Stadium Boulevard bridges at 10 a.m. May 14.
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, who helped the city secure nearly $14 million in highly competitive federal grant funding for the bridges, is expected to be in attendance for the ribbon cutting, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Washtenaw County, city of Ann Arbor, project contractors and neighbors.
Motorists drive over the newly constructed East Stadium Boulevard bridges in Ann Arbor right after the roadway opened for the first time about 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The $22.8 million replacement of the 83-year-old spans over State Street and the adjacent railroad tracks was undertaken with motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in mind.
The bridges officially opened in November after a year of construction. The city held a pre-opening celebration for the Lower Burns Park neighborhood last fall that allowed some of the residents most affected by the construction to walk across the new bridges for the first time.
City officials said in November some remaining work would take place through May, including placing permanent pavement markings, completing landscaping and anti-graffiti coating, installing permanent right-of-way monuments and performing a number of routine "punch list" items.
Ann Arbor received $13.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and about $2.9 million from the state to cover nearly three quarters of the cost. The remaining funds came from various city sources, including the city's street and bridge resurfacing and reconstruction millage.
Some of the project elements included improved sight distances, the addition of on-street bike lanes, sidewalks on both sides of the road, improved street lighting, greater vertical and horizontal clearances for both bridge spans, construction of a sidewalk on the west side of State Street and improved pedestrian access to East Stadium Boulevard via new staircases at State Street.
The staircases feature light posts along the outside edge for enhanced visibility and an internal heating system intended to prevent ice and snow from accumulating on steps. Also on the staircases are raised troughs on each side to facilitate walking bicycles up and down the stairs.
The project also included stormwater quality improvements, new water mains, improvements to Rose-White Park, landscaping, and many other features.
Four artists from across the country are now competing for a potentially $360,000 contract from the city of Ann Arbor to create a new public art installation at the site of the Stadium bridges. Members of the public were invited to meet the four finalists during an open house last month.
Design proposals from the artists are due May 9.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.