Ann Arbor's East Stadium bridges to be officially dedicated Tuesday

Posted on Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

Ann Arbor's East Stadium bridges to be officially dedicated Tuesday

By Amy Biolchini

A pedestrian walks down State Street under the Stadium Blvd. bridge Wednesday afternoon, February 7, 2007 in Ann Arbor. Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News

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A pedestrian walks down State Street under the Stadium Blvd. bridge Wednesday afternoon, February 7, 2007 in Ann Arbor. Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News

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A pedestrian walks down State Street under the Stadium Blvd. bridge Wednesday afternoon, February 7, 2007 in Ann Arbor. Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 02_fullsize.JPG
A runner makes his way toward Michigan Stadium on an East Stadium Boulevard bridge in 2007. Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 01_fullsize.JPG
Debris sits in the road on State St. below the Stadium bridge in Ann Arbor, MI on Nov. 16, 2009. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 03_fullsize.JPG
A lane was taken out of the Stadium bridge above State St. in Ann Arbor, MI for repairs on Nov. 16, 2009. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 04_fullsize.JPG
Stadium bridge was reduced to two lanes do to pending repairs in Ann Arbor on Aug. 27, 2010. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 05_fullsize.JPG
Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor heading toward the State Street bridge February 24, 2011. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 06_fullsize.JPG
Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor looking toward the State Street bridge February 24, 2011. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 07_fullsize.JPG
Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor near the State Street bridge February 24, 2011. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 08_fullsize.JPG
Cars drive down State St. and over the Stadium bridge Nov. 25, 2011. Both areas were closed to traffic for bridge repairs. AnnArbor.com | Angela J. Cesere /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 09_fullsize.JPG
A sign on State St. alerts drivers Nov. 25, 2011 to the upcoming closure for construction. AnnArbor.com | Angela J. Cesere /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 10_fullsize.JPG
Construction crews work on Stadium Blvd. Dec. 2, 2011 after taking out the Stadium bridge. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 11_fullsize.JPG
Only the southbound lane was open from Granger to Stimson on State Street on May 17, 2012 due to the Stadium Bridge construction. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 12_fullsize.JPG
Construction continued on the Stadium Bridges in Ann Arbor Aug. 22, 2012. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 13_fullsize.JPG
Karl Dickinson walks his dog, Jackson, on the the East Stadium bridge Nov. 11, 2012. Dickinson is pleased to see the bridge completed. "The people of Ann Arbor deserve this," he says. Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 14_fullsize.JPG
A construction worker walks under the nearly completed East Stadium bridge Nov. 13, 2012. Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 15_fullsize.JPG
Equipment Operator Mike Reeve uses a crane to install a light post near the East Stadium bridge Nov. 13, 2012. Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 16_fullsize.JPG
A construction worker walks with heavy materials on the East Stadium bridge Nov. 13, 2012. Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 17_fullsize.JPG
The first vehicles drive across the new East Stadium Boulevard bridges Nov. 14, 2012 in Ann Arbor. Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 18_fullsize.JPG
Vehicles pass east over East Stadium Blvd. bridges Nov. 14, 2012 after they reopened to traffic. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/00 Bridge/cache/Stadium Bridges 19_fullsize.JPG

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To formally dedicate the new East Stadium Boulevard bridges in Ann Arbor, national, state and local officials will host a ceremony 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Among them will be U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., who was largely responsible for securing a $13.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the work.

He will be joined by U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle, Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje and Ann Arbor City Administrator Steve Powers. Project contractors, Washtenaw County officials, neighbors and the public will be present as well.

The brief ceremony will be at 1501 S. State St. Parking is available in the University of Michigan's Red Lot adjacent to the bridge off of State Street.

The East Stadium bridges opened to traffic in November after a year of construction.

As a major east-west route across the southern part of Ann Arbor, the bridges span State Street. An estimated 17,000 drivers cross the bridges each day.

Overall, the project's cost was $22.8 million to replace the 83-year-old spans.

A public art installation will be the next development on the bridges. The city has offered up a $360,000 contract and is in the process of accepting submissions from four artists.

The deadline for the submissions has been extended from May 9 to May 22, with formal presentations on June 7, according to Aaron Seagraves, the city's public art administrator.

AnnArbor.com has compiled a photo gallery of the East Stadium bridges before, during and after construction.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Comments

jns131

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:57 p.m.

All I can say is this. OOOO its sparkly.

mady

Wed, May 15, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.

So is my bathroom! ok, ok, I'll drop it. ;)

RUKiddingMe

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.

Why is the public art thing still going on. We had that vote, they said they needed to revisit the commission, and no more money was to be collected until they figured out what they're going to do (which, by the way, looks like adding more staff to it, surprise surprise). Been a long time. What's the story? What's the decision?

Usual Suspect

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:53 p.m.

They don't have the guts to put the whole concept up for a vote.

SusanRk

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.

There was a dedication to a section of sidewalk last month. This was a much bigger project so to be equitable a similar dedication seems fair. Are they going to have food?

Usual Suspect

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.

Non-Monsanto food, of course.

jcj

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.

Dedicate your child, dedicate yourself to your partner, dedicate your life's work to something worthwhile! But what are they going to dedicate this bridge to? Is it anymore worthy than a sign, a parking lot?

jcj

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:21 p.m.

I have not seen ANYONE that thinks this is a bright idea! Why bother with an article?

alarictoo

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.

Isn't this the same brand new bridge that they were already patching the concrete side of a couple of weeks ago? Reminds me of the line from 'Armageddon': "You know we're sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn't it?" ;^)

motorcycleminer

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:40 p.m.

Just another fine example of our leaders ?? kissing each others backsides on having spent more of our tax $$$...just a glorified " photo op " to make them look like they actually do something to justify their salaries...

Craig Lounsbury

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.

For those of interested in gambling I put the over/under on lane closures to fix something at 28 months.

Craig Lounsbury

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.

This speaks to the general disdain I have for politicians. Why do we need to pat you on the back for building a bridge with our money? In other news I mowed my lawn yesterday and invite you all over to appreciate my work. Bring beer and burgers please.

mady

Wed, May 15, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.

AND my bathroom still looks pretty good too ;)

mady

Wed, May 15, 2013 : 7:27 p.m.

@upperdecker, oh well, can't win 'em all, that's the way the egg-plants. Har-de-har-har-har ;)

jcj

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.

Now IF a couple of my neighbors mow their lawn, THAT will be worth noting!

UpperDecker

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.

Good one craig. Not funny mady.

mady

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.

In even more news, this morning I cleaned my bathroom. the tile glistens. come on over!

Usual Suspect

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.

Come one, it's a bridge. And a very plain one. And it was a replacement. It's not like it's a new span across some impassible chasm that people previously had to drive dozens of miles to get around.

Craig Lounsbury

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:32 p.m.

with all due respect its not a plain bridge, it has LED lights made to look like something out of the 1920's. But don't drive over it at night because once the lights turn on the effect is gone. ;)

Jack Gladney

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.

Dear Lord, we ask that you watch over our Most Esteemed Representative John Dingell and other wise dignitaries on this most wonderful day as we dedicate this feat of modern engineering that now unites the East with the West (Stadium Blvd, that is dear Heavenly Father). May our dear leaders be blessed with the favor of not breaking any limbs whist patting themselves on their backs as they congratulate each other on spending tax money in a worthy manner. Amen Now, who wants to drop a half million on some useless art?

Billy

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.

So are they going to break a bottle of champagne on the bridge or something?

S.Black

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.

The bridge is a lovely architectural work unto itself. Let's not get too goofy with the public art.

a2migrl

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.

How about no public art and fix the portion of Staduim between Main and the new bridge and Industrial (or a bit further east) and the bridge?

Hugh Giariola

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.

I'm glad to see I am not the only one who thinks this is a huge waste of time and just a reason for pols to glad-hand each other for a repair to a city street. Get back to work.

tlb1201

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:58 a.m.

What a waste of taxpayer money to fly narcissistic politicians like Dingell and LaHood in for a photo op. Put the money into fixing more roads and bridges instead of campaign PR opportunities.

justcurious

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:52 a.m.

I guess it's just someone's idea of how to get a pat on the back for doing what should have been done years ago.

average joe

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:28 a.m.

Is there a legitimate reason why road and infrastructure projects such as these need to be 'dedicated', and who will it be dedicated to? But now I know why workers were patching the top to bottom crack on the supporting wall on the west side of State st this past Friday.

Matt Lang

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:39 a.m.

the politicos go to these for the photo op, and the post dedication cocktail party

A2comments

Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:23 a.m.

Move along, nothing new here. These aren't the droids you're looking for.