UPDATE 5/23/23:

From Wednesday, May 24 to Friday, May 26, the Ingham County Road Department will close one lane of northbound and southbound traffic on the Okemos Road bridge to begin cleaning the railings and applying concrete surface coating to the bridge arches, abutments, retaining walls, and modular block wall. 

The sidewalk/pathway on the east side of Okemos Road will also be closed from Clinton Street to Mount Hope Road.

Additional lane closures will be required in the future to complete this final work, but one lane of northbound and southbound traffic will always be maintained during this work. 

UPDATE 3/10/23:

Okemos Road Bridge to Open between March 16 to late March:

• The final concrete was poured on Thursday, March 9. The concrete will require 7-14 days to properly cure depending on the weather. Southbound Okemos Road traffic will remain detoured until the concrete has finished curing. The Okemos Road Bridge will open to two lanes of southbound and northbound traffic between March 16 to late March.
• Temporary lane closures will be required intermittently when there is dry weather. This is so the contractor can seal concrete joints, apply concrete surface coating and complete other final restoration work. One lane of traffic will remain open, northbound and southbound, during this final work.
• The Ingham County Road Department is working to improve the traffic signal at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection. The light cycle for traffic leaving the school needs to be extended along with other timing issues.

UPDATE 3/6/23:

We appreciate everyone’s patience. The traffic shift was delayed due to the power outages across the state as the Ingham County Road Department’s signal contractor was working for the utility companies to help restore everyone’s power from the ice storm. Please read more below for more information.

Northbound Traffic Shift Currently Scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 after 4:00 pm:

• There is still concrete pavement to pour for the center turn lane on the south and north side of the bridge. This is due to the location of the temporary barrier wall that separates the current northbound traffic from construction activities.
• The Ingham Country Road Department will need to shift northbound traffic from the current southbound lane to the east-most northbound lane in order to remove the temporary concrete barrier wall and pour this remaining concrete for the center turn lanes.
• The Ingham County Road Department and their contractor currently plan to shift northbound traffic on Tuesday, March 7 after 4:00 pm to avoid conflicts with school traffic.
• Southbound Okemos Road traffic will remain detoured until the concrete pavement sections have been poured and have cured. The concrete may require up to 14 days to properly cure depending on the weather. The concrete subcontractor is tentatively scheduled to pour the remaining concrete on Thursday, March 9.
• The new traffic signal will be turned on prior to this traffic shift occurring. Pedestrian push buttons will be activated when the traffic shift is complete.

New Okemos Road to Open in Late March:

• The Ingham County Road Department will fully open the new bridge in late March after the final concrete has cured.
• Temporary lane closures will be required at some point when there is dry weather in order for the contractor to seal concrete joints, apply concrete surface coating, and complete other final restoration work. One lane of traffic will remain open, northbound and southbound, during this final work.

Detour Reminder Through Late March:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is open to southbound and northbound traffic.

UPDATE 2/21/23:

Construction Updates:

• Bridge contractor installed the guardrail on the east side of Okemos Road and finished forming and tying the steel reinforcement for the upper portion of the camelback arch.
• Concrete subcontractor poured the upper portion of the arch on Monday, February 20.
• Concrete subcontractor will pour the sidewalk and curb and gutter for the Ferguson park entrance the week of Monday, February 20, weather dependent.
• Concrete subcontractor will begin grading in preparation to pour the remaining sidewalk and pathway.

Northbound Traffic Shift Coming, Date TBD:

• There is still some concrete pavement to pour for the center turn lane on the south and north side of the bridge due to the location of the temporary concrete barrier wall that separates the current northbound traffic from construction activities.
• Once the northbound lanes of the bridge deck and Okemos Road approaches have cured and are ready for traffic, the Ingham Country Road Department will need to shift northbound traffic from the southbound lane to the northbound lane in order to remove the temporary concrete barrier wall and pour this remaining concrete for the center turn lanes. There will still only be one lane of northbound traffic after this shift occurs.
• The Ingham County Road Department and their contractor may shift northbound traffic to the northbound lane sometime during the week of Monday, February 20. The timing of the traffic shift is weather dependent.

Reminder about the Pedestrian Push Buttons Not Being Active Until the New Bridge Opens:

• The traffic signal at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will also need to be programed before the bridge can fully open. The traffic signal has been installed for some time now.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons cannot be activated until the new bridge and Okemos/Mount Hopefully Road intersection fully reopen. There is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road that pedestrians should watch for.

Detour Reminder through February:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in February.

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UPDATE 2/8/23:

Okemos Road Bridge Construction Photos

Construction Updates:

• Concrete subcontractor began work on Monday, February 6 on the south bridge approach. The contractor was able to pour half of the south bridge approach on Monday and the second half on Tuesday. This concrete will need 7 days to cure. After the concrete gains sufficient strength, then the guardrail will be installed, concrete joints will be sealed, and pavement markings can be applied.
• The lower portion of the east camelback arch is scheduled to be poured on Wednesday, February 8. The upper portion of the camelback arch will be poured after the lower portion of the concrete cures and gains sufficient strength.
• The concrete subcontractor will begin pouring concrete for the north bridge approach on Wednesday, February 8 as well.

Northbound Traffic Shift Coming, Date TBD:

• There is still some concrete pavement to pour on the south side of the bridge due to the location of the temporary barrier wall to separate the current northbound traffic from construction activities.
• Once the northbound lanes of the bridge and Okemos Road approaches are cured and ready for traffic, the Ingham Country Road Department will need to shift northbound traffic from the southbound lane to the northbound lanes in order to remove the temporary concrete barrier and pour this remaining concrete in the southbound lanes on the south side of the bridge.
• More details will be released regarding this traffic shift schedule in the near future.

Reminder about the Pedestrian Push Buttons Not Being Active Until the New Bridge Opens:

• The traffic signal at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will also need to be programed before the bridge can fully open. The traffic signal has been installed for some time now.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons cannot be activated until the new bridge and Okemos/Mount Hopefully Road intersection fully reopen. There is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road that pedestrians should watch for.

Detour Reminder through February:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in February.

UPDATE 2/6/23:

Construction Updates:

• The general contractor began tying steel reinforcement and forming to prepare to pour the concrete for the east bridge arch.
• The general contractor is using ground heaters and insulated construction blankets to warm the earth on the north and south side of the bridge to prepare to pour the approaches of Okemos Road.
• Concrete subcontractor installed forms to prepare to pour the approaches of Okemos Road.
• The concrete approaches of Okemos Road on the north and south side of the bridge will be poured when weather permits. As of Friday, February 3 at 5:00 pm, the weather forecast looks promising the week of Monday, February 6.
• The bridge deck was poured in early January and has cured.

Reminder about the Pedestrian Push Buttons Not Being Active Until the New Bridge Opens:

• The traffic signal at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will also need to be programed before the bridge can fully open. The traffic signal has been installed for some time now.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons cannot be activated until the new bridge and Okemos/Mount Hopefully Road intersection fully reopen. There is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road that pedestrians should watch for.

Detour Reminder through February:

•  Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in February.

UPDATE 1/24/23:

Construction Updates:

• Bridge contractor installed bridge expansion joint. 
• Contractor is beginning to remove formwork beneath the newly poured bridge deck.
• Bridge contractor cast the pedestrian brush block on the bridge deck. Contractor will be tying steel reinforcement and begin forming the bridge barrier railing.
• Bridge contractor will be breaking down the cranes on site in order to complete grade work to finish Okemos Road approaches on the north and south side of the bridge.
• The concrete subcontractor is tentatively scheduled to begin pouring the Okemos Road approaches on the north and south side of the bridge next week, weather dependent. 
• Contractor is preparing the grade to complete the driveway and curb and gutter into the single-family home and Ferguson Park on the east side of Okemos Road.

Current Estimated Timeline for the Opening of the New Bridge:

• Unfortunately, the holiday season and winter storm have pushed construction schedules back. The new Okemos Road bridge is now expected to be completed in February. We do not have a firmer timeline than sometime in the month of February right now as weather is a huge unknown this time of the year.
• We appreciate everyone’s patience as this is a very difficult construction project for everyone involved. Please drive safely through the construction zone and observe the posted detours.

Reminder about the Pedestrian Push Buttons Not Being Active Until the New Bridge Opens:

• The traffic signal at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will also need to be programed before the bridge can fully open. The traffic signal has been installed for some time now.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons cannot be activated until the new bridge and Okemos/Mount Hopefully Road intersection fully reopen. There is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road that pedestrians should watch for.

Detour Reminder through February:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in February.

UPDATE 1/5/23:

Current Estimated Timeline for the Opening of the New Bridge:

• Unfortunately, the holiday season and winter storm have pushed construction schedules back. The new Okemos Road bridge is now expected to be completed in February. We do not have a firmer timeline than sometime in the month of February right now as weather is a huge unknown this time of the year.
• The original construction schedule called for the bridge to be completed at the end of November. However, the project was delayed one month at the very beginning of construction in February of 2022 due to AT&T being behind on relocating their utilities on the previous southbound bridge. 
• We appreciate everyone’s patience as this is a very difficult construction project for everyone involved. Please drive safely through the construction zone and observe the posted detours.

More Construction Details:

• The bridge deck is tentatively scheduled to be poured on Wednesday, January 11, weather permitting. Then the contractor will be able to work on the railings and other components of the bridge.
• The concrete approaches of Okemos Road on the north and south side of the bridge must also be poured.
• All work on underground utilities have been completed and the modular retaining wall is nearly complete.
• The traffic signal at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will also need to be programed before the bridge can fully open. The traffic signal has been installed for some time now.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons are not operational yet and that there is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road. The pedestrian push buttons cannot be activated until the new traffic signal is activated.

UPDATE 12/9/22:

Current Estimated Timeline for the Opening of the New Bridge:

• We currently estimate that the new bridge will open sometime in January. The original construction timeline called for the bridge to open at the end of November. However, the project ran into a one-month delay at the very beginning due to AT&T being behind schedule on relocating their utilities that were on the old southbound bridge (demolition of this bridge was the initial phase of the project).
• The original scheduled start date was February 14, 2022 but was delayed until March 14, 2022 due to the work from AT&T.

Update on Bridge Work:

• The final eight bridge beams were installed on Tuesday, December 6. 
• The contractor is completing work in preparation to pour concrete for the east half of the bridge deck.
• The contractor cast the south bridge abutment backwall last week and has begun backfilling for the bridge approach on Friday, December 9.  
• The contractor is preparing to cast the north bridge abutment backwall and will backfill after the backwall has cured.
• The retaining wall contractor will begin placing the modular block wall next week beginning on the north side of the bridge.

Update on Work North and South of the Bridge:

• Drain work has been completed on both the north and south sides of the bridge. 

Mount Hope/Okemos Road Intersection:

• Contractor placed new crosswalk markings at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection on November 23.
• Contractor began removal work to relocate the Okemos Central Elementary School driveway at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection. Concrete curb and gutter for the relocated driveway has been poured.
• Contractor is now working to complete pavement removal in preparation for hot mix asphalt pavement.
• Traffic signal subcontractor installed the pedestrian pushbutton at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection:
  • Please note that the push buttons are not fully functional because of the impacts the traffic signal timing for shifted northbound traffic.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons are not operational yet and that there is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road.

Detour Reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 12/9/22:

• Northbound Okemos Road from Mount Hope to Hamilton Roads was reopened at 10:30 pm on Thursday, December 8 after scheduled water main work that began at 6:00 pm at the southeast corner of the Hamilton/Okemos Road intersection was completed. 
• On Friday, December 9, the Township will be replacing the concrete at the southeast corner of the Hamilton/Okemos Road intersection where the water main break occurred. Northbound Okemos Road will be open during this concrete work, but we ask that motorists travel safely through this construction zone. 
• The concrete being placed at the southeast corner of the Hamilton/Okemos Road intersection will need 5-7 days to cure before it can be fully reopened. We currently anticipate fully reopening this portion of the intersection between Wednesday, December 14 and Friday, December 16. 

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 UPDATE 12/8/22:

• Beginning at 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 8, northbound Okemos Road from Mount Hope to Hamilton Roads will be closed for 3-6 hours for water main work.
• Northbound Okemos Road from Mount Hope to Hamilton Roads will be reopened this evening once the work is completed. 
• On Friday, December 9, beginning at 9:00 am, the Township will be replacing the concrete at the southeast corner of the Hamilton/Okemos Road intersection where the water main break occurred. Northbound Okemos Road will be open during this work, but we ask that motorists travel safely through this construction zone.

UPDATE 12/7/22:

Northbound Okemos Road has been reopened between Mount Hope and Hamilton Roads. The water main break has been repaired.

UPDATE 12/7/22:

Ingham County Road Department has closed Northbound Okemos Road between Mount Hope and Hamilton Roads until further notice due to a water main break. We will provide additional information as it comes in. 

UPDATE 12/6/22:

The closure of northbound Okemos Road that was scheduled to begin a 8:00 am on Tuesday, December 6 has been delayed due to a crane breaking down. A new crane is in route to set the beams.

We currently anticipate about an hour delay. Northbound Okemos Road is now scheduled to be closed from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to set the bridge beams.

UPDATE 12/5/22:

During the scheduled closure of northbound Okemos Road for final beam placement on Tuesday, December 6, turn movements at the Mount Hope Road/Okemos Road intersection will be impacted as follows: 

• Motorists will NOT be able to make left turns from eastbound Mount Hope Road onto northbound Okemos Road.  
• Motorists will be able to make right turns from eastbound Mount Hope Road to southbound Okemos Road.  
• Motorists will be able to make left turns from northbound Okemos Road onto westbound Mount Hope Road, but northbound Okemos Road over the bridge will be closed during beam placement. Therefore, all northbound Okemos Road traffic will be required to turn left onto westbound Mount Hope Road during this temporary closure.

The Meridian Township Police Department will be on site to help direct traffic leaving the Okemos Public Montessori school during student drop-off and pickup. All traffic leaving Okemos Public Montessori will need to turn left onto southbound Okemos Road due to the northbound Okemos Road closure. Police will stop oncoming traffic to allow school traffic to safely exit Okemos Public Montessori.

UPDATE 11/30/22:

• The Ingham County Road Department (ICRD) has announced that northbound Okemos Road will be temporarily closed at the Okemos Road and Mount Hope Road intersection on Tuesday, December 6.
• The intersection and bridge closure is expected to last from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, but is dependent upon how long it takes the contractor to place the bridge beams. 
• This closure is happening so that eight 140-foot long beams can be unloaded and placed on the new bridge abutments as part of the new Okemos Road Bridge project.  
• These are the final beams that need to be placed for the new bridge.

UPDATE 11/28/22:

Mount Hope/Okemos Road Intersection:

• Contractor placed new crosswalk markings at Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection on November 23.
• Contractor began removal work to relocate the Okemos Central Elementary School driveway at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection. Concrete curb and gutter for the relocated driveway has been poured.
• Contractor is now working to complete pavement removal in preparation for hot mix asphalt pavement.
• Traffic signal subcontractor installed the pedestrian pushbutton at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection:
  • Please note that the push buttons are not fully functional because of the impacts the traffic signal timing for shifted northbound traffic.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons are not operational yet and that there is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road.

Update on Bridge Work Along the Red Cedar River:

• Bridge contractor is placing concrete for the south abutment wall on November 23.
• Contractor will remove abutment wall forms and begin excavation for lightweight fill on the south abutment wall the week of November 28.
• Contractor began removing cofferdam and began lightweight fill at north abutment on November 23.
• Contractor began lightweight fill and storm sewer work on the north side of the bridge near the north bridge abutment wall. Contractor completed one storm sewer run and one drainage structure on the north side. 
• Contractor has two more drainage structures and two more storm sewer runs to install on the north side of the bridge.
• Modular block wall work will begin after storm sewer is completed on the north side of the bridge.
• Contractor will continue to backfill behind the north abutment. When backfill is completed, the contractor will begin pouring concrete for the bridge approach on Okemos Road.

Detour Reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 11/7/22:

Work on Okemos Road North of the Bridge:

• Contractors finished grading Okemos Road north of the bridge and placed concrete curb and gutter. Contractors also placed additional concrete curb and gutter in the north median island. Concrete subcontractor will begin paving of the north bound roadway the week of November 7. Contractor will continue removing pavement from the old bridge to just north of Wonch Park for storm sewer work.

Mount Hope/Okemos Road Intersection:

• Contractor began removal work to relocate the Okemos Central Elementary School driveway at the intersection. The parking lot light pole and light pole foundation that were in conflict with the location of the new driveway were removed. Concrete curb and gutter for the relocated driveway was placed. Contractor is working to complete pavement removal in preparation for hot mix asphalt pavement.
• Traffic signal subcontractor installed the pedestrian pushbutton at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection:
  • Please note that the push buttons are not fully functional because of the impacts the traffic signal timing for shifted northbound traffic.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons are not operational yet and that there is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road. Paving marking subcontractor placed new crosswalk markings at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection on Friday, October 28 to delineate the crossing.

Update on Bridge Work Along the Red Cedar River:

• Bridge contractor began forming with concrete texture lines and placing reinforcing steel for the north abutment wall. The concrete pour for the north abutment wall is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8.
• Bridge contractor cast the bridge footing on the south abutment on Tuesday, November 1 and will begin forming and placing reinforcing steel next week.

Detour Reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Road is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 10/31/22:

Work on Okemos Road North of the Bridge:

• The bridge contractor has completed 50% of the storm sewer work on Okemos Rd on the north side of the bridge. Contractor is beginning to remove pavement from the old camelback bridge to just north of the Wonch Park curb cut for the remaining storm sewer work.

 Mount Hope/Okemos Road Intersection:

• Traffic signal subcontractor installed the pedestrian pushbutton at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection. 
  • Please note that the push buttons are not fully functional because of the impacts the traffic signal timing for shifted northbound traffic.
• Pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the push buttons are not operational yet and that there is construction occurring on the east side of Okemos Road. Paving marking subcontractor placed new crosswalk markings at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection on Friday, October 28 to delineate the crossing.  

Update on Bridge Work Along the Red Cedar River:

• Bridge contractor cast the bridge abutment footing for the north abutment this past Tuesday and will begin forming and placing reinforcing steel for the abutment wall. Bridge contractor began forming the bridge footing for the south abutment and will cast the bridge footing on Tuesday, November 1. 

Detour Reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Rd is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

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UPDATE 10/14/22:

Mount Hope/Okemos Rd Intersection:

• According to the Ingham County Road Department, pedestrians can cross at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection but should be aware that the pedestrian push buttons have not been installed yet. Traffic signal subcontractor will return the week of Monday, October 17 to work on the pedestrian push buttons at the Mt Hope/Okemos Road intersection. The pedestrian barricades will remain in place across the school driveway as that area will be under construction until the bridge construction is completed.
• Concrete subcontractor has placed concrete for curb and gutter, pavement, and sidewalk at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection.  
• Contractor is focusing on the Okemos Road storm sewer work but will have to come back and finish the driveway work for the Consumers Energy and Central Elementary School driveway at the intersection. The Consumers Energy and Central Elementary School driveways are not anticipated to be completed until December.

Update on bridge work along the Red Cedar River:

• Contractor has completed the pile driving on the north bridge abutment and installed the concrete footing. The contractor has finished excavation for the south bridge abutment.

Work on Okemos Road north of the bridge:

• Contractor began removing concrete pavement and installing storm sewer north of the bridge to the end of the project just south of Clinton Street.

Detour reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Rd is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 10/11/22:

Mount Hope/Okemos Rd Intersection:

• Concrete pouring has been completed at the intersection. 
• Traffic signal subcontractor installed conduit for pedestrian push buttons at the intersection and is working on intersection signalization.
• We do not currently have a date for the reopening of the intersection.

Update on bridge work along the Red Cedar River:

• Bridge contractor has completed the installing cofferdams for the bridge abutments. The contractor has finished excavation for the north bridge abutments and will begin pile driving on Friday, October 7.  Contractor began excavating the South Bridge abutment for the footing prior to pile driving. 

Detour reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Rd is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 9/30/22:

Mount Hope/Okemos Rd Intersection:

•  The Ingham County Road Department's contractor has completed the Nilson Drain work at the southeast quadrant of the intersection and the Central Elementary School driveway and parking lot. 

• The contractor is now grading this area of the intersection and Central Elementary School driveway. Concrete is scheduled to be poured late next week (October 5-8). The concrete must then cure.

• The traffic signal subcontractor will also begin electrical and conduit work next week at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection and Central Elementary School driveway and parking lot.

•  The demolition of the camelback bridge is complete. The contractor has also completed the excavation and placement of riprap at the Red Cedar River and is currently installing cofferdams for the north and south bridge abutments. After cofferdam have been installed, the contractor will begin excavation work for the bridge abutments. 

Detour reminder through December:

• Northbound Okemos Road will remain open during bridge construction. Southbound Okemos Rd is being detoured via Hagadorn Road and Dobie Road until the new bridge deck is completed in December.

UPDATE 9/1/22:

The Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will begin to reopen tomorrow afternoon:

• Eastbound Mount Hope traffic will be able to turn left onto northbound Okemos Rd again.
• Northbound Okemos Rd will be able to turn left onto Westbound Mount Hope again.

The contractor is getting the roadway ready to shift northbound Okemos Road traffic onto the new bridge deck on Tuesday, September 6. Then demolition of the old camelback bridge will begin in order to build the new bridge deck out to the east.

Reminder that the Central Elementary School driveway at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will remain closed until Stage 2 work at the northeast corner of the Mount Hope/Okemos is completed in 2-3 months. 

For more information regarding the school drop-off lines, view the update below from 8/23/22.

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 UPDATE 8/29/22:

Sometime between August 29 and September 2, the Ingham County Road Department will reopen:

• Left turns from eastbound Mount Hope Road to northbound Okemos Road.
• Left turns from northbound Okemos Road to westbound Mount Hope Road.

The concrete was poured Tuesday, September 23 and requires approximately 5 days to cure. The contractor is still completing additional work on the northwest corner of the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection and then Ingham County Road Department will reconfigure the signal in order to switch to Stage 2 of the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection detours. 

For a complete description of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 detours on the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection, view the update below from 8/19/22.

UPDATE 8/23/22:

Updated detour maps have been created for Central Elementary School on Okemos Road and Mount Hope Road. 

The Township worked with the Ingham County Road Department and Okemos Public Schools to have a new, temporary curb cut installed on Okemos Road to help facilitate the following school drop-off line plans beginning on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

These school drop-off plans are expected to remain in place until December, when the Ingham County Road Department’s work on the northeast corner of the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection is expected to be completed. This will allow the curb cut to and from the school at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection to reopen.

The maps for the detours can be viewed below:

Central Elementary School Grades 1-4 Drop-off Map August 24-December 2022

Central Elementary School PPK Drop-off Map August 24-December 2022

UPDATE 8/19/22:

Stage 1: The Ingham County Road Department currently plans to begin working on the northwest corner of the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection as part of the Okemos Road bridge project on Monday, August 22. The Ingham County Road Department will be announcing the detours for this work soon. This work is currently estimated to take 10 days to complete. The following traffic will be detoured during Stage 1:

• Northbound traffic on Okemos Road seeking to go over the bridge will not be impacted.
• Eastbound Mount Hope Road traffic seeking to turn left (northbound) onto Okemos Road will be detoured. Meaning there will be no ability for motorists to turn left from Mount Hope Road onto Okemos Road.
• All traffic seeking to go westbound on Mount Hope Road at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection will be detoured. Meaning there will be no ability for motorists traveling northbound on Okemos Road to turn left (westbound) onto Mount Hope Road. It also means that there will be no ability to leave the Okemos Central Montessori at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection and travel straight onto westbound Mount Hope Road.
• When leaving the Okemos Central Montessori at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection, there will be no ability to turn left southbound onto Okemos Road. Traffic wishing to leave the school and travel southbound on Okemos Road will be required to use the south entrance/exit on Okemos Road across from Shawnee Trail.
• Traffic will be able to turn right at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection to enter Okemos Central Montessori and will be permitted to turn right onto northbound Okemos Road to leave Okemos Central Montessori.
• Traffic will be detoured using Bennett Road, Hagadorn Road and Grand River Avenue.

Stage 2: After the estimated 10-day construction for Stage 1, the Ingham County Road Department will then begin working on the northeast corner of the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection as part of the Okemos Road bridge project. There is extensive work required on the northeast corner of the intersection, including work on the Nilson Drain located below this portion of the intersection. The Ingham County Road Department estimates that it will take 2-3 months to complete Stage 2.

During Stage 2, northbound Okemos Road traffic seeking to go over the bridge will begin using the new bridge deck. Contractors will then begin removing the old camelback bridge and building the new bridge deck out to the east.

During Stage 2 there will be no ingress or egress to Okemos Central Montessori at the Mount Hope/Okemos Road intersection. All traffic to and from Okemos Central Montessori will have to use the south entrance/exit on Okemos Road across from Shawnee Trail.

All other traffic movement at the Mount Hope/Okemos intersection will be restored. Again, the Ingham County Road Department estimates that it will take 2-3 months to complete Stage 2.

UPDATE 7/8/22:

• Bridge abutments are complete. These are the structures that connect the deck to the ground for support.

• Southbound Okemos Road is getting prepped for concrete curbs and gutters, as well as concrete pavement. Drainage work on southbound Okemos Road from Mt. Hope to the bridge has started. 

• Consumers Energy has relocated the power poles and high voltage power lines. 

• Bridge beams will be unloaded and set beginning Friday, July 8. A temporary road closure at the intersection of Okemos and Mt. Hope roads will be necessary to complete. The road closure will occur between 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. 

• The next phase of the project will be building the bridge deck. 

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UPDATE 4/26/22:

All lanes of Okemos Road from Mt. Hope Road to Clinton Street will be closed from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm on Wednesday, April 27. The temporary road closure is for relocation of communication lines on the east side of Okemos Road near Ferguson Park. Please allow extra time for your morning commute.

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UPDATE 4/20/22:

All lanes of Okemos Road from Mt. Hope Road to Clinton Street will be closed from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 21. The temporary road closure is for relocating electric lines on the east side of Okemos Road. Please allow extra time for your morning commute.

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UPDATE 4/5/22:

The contractor for the Okemos Road Bridge Project has completed the majority of the southbound bridge removal work, which included the installation of steel sheet walls within the river to aid in the removal of the foundations.

The contractor began pavement removal and storm sewer work this week. Work will also continue with bridge construction.

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UPDATE 4/3/22:

Beginning Monday, April 4, northbound Okemos Road will be reduced to one line from Shawnee Trail to Clinton Street as the contractor begins southbound Okemos Road pavement removal and storm sewer work. This will impact the northbound Okemos Road left lane. Motorists must use the right lane only. The eastbound center left turn only lane at Mt. Hope and Okemos Roads will also be closed. This closure will remain in effect until further notice. 

UPDATE 3/28/22:

Nashville Construction has completed the following removals for the existing three span southbound Okemos Road Bridge over the Red Cedar River: bridge railings, concrete bridge deck, steel bridge beams and the north bridge abutment.

Nashville Construction has installed the cofferdams for the existing North and South Bridge piers and is the process of removing the reinforced concrete piers and piles. The South pier is roughly 80% removed and the North pier is roughly 40% removed. After the existing South pier is removed, Nashville Construction will begin installing the new South Abutment cofferdam. Nashville Construction has begun installing the cofferdam for the new North bridge abutment. After the cofferdam is installed, Nashville will begin excavating for the footing inside the cofferdam. After the excavation is complete with the cofferdams, Nashville will begin pile driving for the new abutment. Not sure on the timelines yet, but the contractor is making progress.

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UPDATE 3/15/22:

Nashville Construction began the bridge removal after being delayed due to utility relocation of their existing cables from the southbound bridge. The cables were relocated and spliced on Friday, March 11. An asbestos abatement contractor removed asbestos communication ducts from the southbound Okemos Road Bridge over Red Cedar River over the weekend (March 12 and March 13). Nashville Construction began and finished removing the metal bridge barrier railing on both sides of the bridge on Monday, March 14.  Nashville Construction began saw cutting and removing the middle span of the reinforced concrete bridge deck today (Tuesday, March 15).

Nashville Construction plans on removing the middle span of the reinforced concrete bridge deck this week. After removing the reinforced concrete bridge deck of the middle span, Nashville Construction will then remove the steel beams from the middle span. After the middle span steel beams are removed, Nashville Construction will begin installing the steel sheeting for the removal of the two existing reinforced concrete pier cofferdams. Nashville Construction will then remove the North and South reinforced concrete bridge deck tail spans of the bridge. Nashville Construction will then remove the steel beams from the tail spans and will finish installing the steel sheeting for the cofferdams for the removal of the two reinforced concrete piers. They will then proceed to remove the two reinforced concrete piers and the two cofferdams.  

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UPDATE 3/8/22:

Due to work delays with relocating utility lines, the Ingham County Road Department and their contractor Nashville Construction asked the Township to waive the provision of the Code of Ordinances to allow construction work on Sundays from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. The Township Board granted this request at the March 8 meeting. 

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UPDATE 2/22/22:

Okemos Road pavement from South of Clinton Street to Mt. Hope Road will be removed and replaced along with traffic signal upgrades along the Okemos Road corridor between Jolly Road and Grand River Avenue and related (county drain) storm sewer reconstruction. The two existing structures will be replaced with a longer, single five lane structure with pedestrian pathway on the east side. The green pedestrian truss on the west side will remain in place. The $8.75 million infrastructure investment is funded by federal and Ingham County Road Department. 

UPDATE 1/3/22:

The southbound Okemos road detour is scheduled to begin on February 14, 2022 and will continue until November 2022 for the replacement of the Okemos Road bridge over the Red Cedar River between Mt. Hope Road and Clinton Street. Southbound Okemos Road traffic will be detoured via Grand River Avenue (M-43), Dobie Road and Jolly Road.

Northbound Okemos Road traffic will be maintained throughout construction except for a brief period to accommodate construction staging.  The pedestrian truss on the west side of Okemos Road will remain in place, however pedestrian traffic may be restricted during periods of construction.

This project also includes upgrading traffic signals at the following Okemos Road intersections: Hamilton Road, Mt. Hope Road, Science Parkway, Bennett Road/Kinawa Road, and Tamarack Drive. The traffic signal work along Okemos Rd began in November 2021 and is ongoing. Relocation of utilities near the bridge has begun and will continue throughout the construction phase.

The stages in the Okemos Road Bridge Replacement Project are approximate and may be subject to change: 

Stage 1 Construction

• Detour Southbound Okemos Road traffic via Central Park Drive, Dobie Road and Jolly Road. Motorists should anticipate delays and plan for additional travel time in the project vicinity. Alternate routes are encouraged. Note also that MDOT will be working on Grand River Avenue concurrently, with full closure expected at the Okemos Road intersection.
  • Maintain Northbound Okemos Road traffic on existing Northbound roadway and bridge.
  • Remove Southbound Okemos Road roadway approaches and bridge over the Red Cedar River.
  • Construction west half of the new bridge and roadway approaches anticipated Stage 1 completion of July 2022. 

Stage 2 Construction

• Stage 1 Southbound Okemos Road detour will remain in effect. Northbound Okemos Road traffic will be shifted to Southbound lanes over the new (west half of) structure.
• Remove Northbound Okemos Road roadway approaches and (Camelback) bridge over the Red Cedar River.
• Construct east half of the new bridge, pathway, approach roadway approaches, county drain replacement and Mt. Hope Road intersection (Northbound lanes). 

Stage 3 Construction

• Shift Northbound traffic to new Northbound approach lanes and bridge.
• Complete Mt. Hope Road intersection paving.
• Anticipated fully open to traffic on the new bridge and roadway by mid-late November 2022. 

Stage 4 Construction

• Plantings, turf establishment and concrete surface coatings to be completed in Spring of 2023 with a final completion of work expected by June 2023. 

Due to the 2022 Okemos Road bridge work, access to Wonch Park and Ferguson Park is or will become closed throughout the spring, summer and fall. 

Effective February 14, Wonch Park is closed both to vehicle and foot traffic, so please avoid the area.

For your safety, please avoid using these parks until the construction is completed. To enjoy other parks in Meridian Township, visit our Parks Directory.