Politics & Government
Shelby Gives Green Light for Overnight, Weekend Work on M-53 Bridges
The board of trustees has given the Michigan Department of Transportation temporary permission to perform bridge work outside the hours allowed by Shelby Township ordinances.
In the interests of cost and public patience, Shelby Township will allow evening and weekend construction to take place on three bridges over the M-53 freeway.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has three bridge repair projects on its 2013 agenda that will shut down portions of the 21 Mile, 22 Mile and 23 Mile road bridges over M-53.
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However, as Shelby Township's zoning ordinance only allows for construction between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the township had to approve a temporary variance Tuesday to allow MDOT to complete the repairs on a faster schedule.
While the township board did consider the effect additional construction noise may have on area neighborhoods, the ability to reduce cost and overall construction time for the greater public's benefit was given preference.
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"The primary benefit is to shorten the duration of this construction project," said Supervisor Rick Stathakis.
None of the bridges are expected to be closed for longer than 10 days, according MDOT. However, an additional weekend closure may be needed.
Exact dates for the closures have not been announced.
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