Time may be running out on replacing a critical bridge in east Cheboygan County, but officials will need to wait a little longer to get state funding for the work.
The Orchard Beach Bridge spans the Black River and is located near scenic farmland in Benton Township. It’s important for commuters and the first responders based just up the road.
Parts of the concrete pillars that hold up the bridge have chipped off and crumbled into the river while other areas are discolored from years of use. County officials estimated nearly 1,000 vehicles use the bridge per day.
But the bridge was left out of a funding package called the “Local Agency Bridge Bundling Program” from the Michigan Department of Transportation this year — despite county officials marking it as a top priority.
“That was kind of our last fingers-crossed hope for funding for this year,” said Matt Hall, director of the Cheboygan County Road Commission. “Next year, we’ll start everything we can find again.”
The bridge has been in critical condition for almost four years but county officials say it’s difficult to secure funding for a bridge that services a county road in a rural area.
Cheboygan Economic Development Coordinator Sharon Lange says the cost to replace the bridge will likely exceed $8 million.
“We're beating every bush we can and trying to identify we're just one of dozens and dozens and dozens of other communities that are doing the same thing, and we just have to keep fighting until it's our turn,” Lange said.
Both Lange and Hall said there are still opportunities for the state legislature to appropriate funds in the lame-duck session before the end of the year - but that’s not guaranteed.
In 2023, state Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) and state Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) met with local leaders to discuss funding possibilities within the state.
Earlier this year, Alverno Fire Chief Ron Fenlon told IPR News the crossing is critical for some of his firemen. If closed, they would have to travel an extra eight miles to the next crossing to get to the fire hall.
The bridge passed its annual inspection in July and officials said it’s still safe to cross. But new weight restrictions may be imposed if the bridge continues to deteriorate.
