Port Huron has numerous transportation challenges from rivers to
rail to being located at the merging of two major international highway systems.
This delicate system can be easily disturbed when temporary interruptions occur
like an accident, border backups or other road blockages.
St. Clair County has 224 bridges, the second highest number of bridges in the
state of Michigan, next to Wayne County. Whether you are coming to Port Huron
from out of town at the north, south, east or west, you must cross water. From
the east, you will cross the Blue Water bridge, from the north, you will cross
the bridge over the Black River on Pine Grove, and from the west, you will either
cross the Black River on I-94 or Wadhams Road. Imagine the impact to commerce
locally and internationally when one of these crossings is under long term construction
and another is not rated adequately to handle the excess traffic.
That will be the reality when the I-94 corridor is reconstructed and expanded
over the Black River as part of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza expansion project.
Passenger and commercial traffic will attempt to access the north end of Port
Huron by utilizing the M-136 route from I-69 which includes the aged Wadhams Road
bridge.
The St. Clair County Road Commission has had the Wadhams Road bridge reconstruction
and expansion on their wish list for several years. They have the 5% match required
but with less state funding and a highly competitive process, $8.5MM is still
needed to expand the bridge from two lanes to the much needed four lanes.
The Wadhams Road bridge over the Black River was built in 1938 and other than
redecking in 1976, it was not made to structurally handle the type of traffic
flow it will undoubtedly see when the lenghtly Blue Water Bridge Plaza project
begins.
Managing Director of the St. Clair County Road Commission, Kirk Weston, stated
“it’s a similar situation to the Minneapolis bridge..” meaning
it can’t handle the weight and volume of traffic. The bridge is already
low rated at 52 tons and next year will be reevaluated again and Mr. Weston expects
the posting to be lowered further which could mean the majority of commercial
traffic will have to go through the plaza reconstruction on I-94.
The reconstruction of the Wadhams Road bridge over the Black River from two lanes
to a four lane bridge will be crucial to improving traffic flow in our community,
especially during the reconstruction of the Blue Water Bridge plaza. Residentially,
Port Huron, Fort Gratiot and Kimball Townships have seen tremendous growth in
the past five years. Commercially, these townships have built up as well and the
Wadhams Road corridor between I-69 and M-136 has seen a significant growth in
traffic as a result.
With the design phase completed, the bid process ready to begin, and $8.5 million
still needed for the four-lane footprint, the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce
stresses the critical need and importance for the Michigan Department of Transportation
to recognize the environmental challenges of Port Huron’s landscape and
elevate the importance of including the Wadhams Road Bridge reconstruction project
as a crucial first stage in improving traffic flow in the region, especially since
it is the alternative route for traffic flowing in from the west when the plaza
is under construction.
Quick Facts:
- Wadhams Road is signed as an MDOT alternate route for M-25 around
the City of Port Huron.
- It serves as an emergency route for portions of I-94 & I-69 when incidents
close the freeway and traffic is diverted.
- Currently the bridge is posted for reduced loading resulting in some trucks
being unable to use the bridge. It is the only crossing of the Black River within
a 14 mile stretch.
- The closest crossings to the east are the bridges carrying I-69 &
I-94 near the Blue Water Bridge Plaza. These bridges are scheduled to be replaced
starting in 2011 by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as part of
the reconstruction of the Plaza and the connecting I-69/I-94 corridor. When this
construction occurs, traffic will find alternate routes to cross the Black River.
The Wadhams Bridge is the next crossing to the west and it must be completed first
to accommodate this all-season traffic.
- The Wadhams Road route is used heavily by traffic avoiding the congestion
of M-25 through Port Huron and serves as a gateway to points north into the Thumb.
- The bridge is “fracture critical” which means that if one
member fails the bridge will collapse. This is similar to the I-35 Bridge in Minnesota.
Delaying its replacement accelerates its deterioration and will lead to more reduced
loading, resulting in 14 mile detours by more vehicles.
- Regardless of its classification as a county bridge, it is regionally
significant in the transportation system and should be treated with the same priority
as an MDOT bridge.
- Current and projected traffic during the lifespan of the new bridge (80
to 100 years) justifies four lanes.
- $8.5M in additional funds is needed to fully fund construction. MDOT will
receive 75% of the money for transportation from the Stimulus Package. Only $3.5M
is allocated to St. Clair County through the Stimulus Package. These funds are
assigned to the Rural and Urban categories and are shared with the cities and
villages in St. Clair County.
- We are asking MDOT to divert some of its Stimulus funding to the Wadhams
Road Bridge because completion of the bridge should be a priority with MDOT.
Vickie R. Ledsworth, President
Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce