Hillman M-32 Business Spur Bridge public hearing documents available

Contact: Bob Felt, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-731-5090

Agency: Transportation

WHAT: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is making a complete transcript of the public hearing held Dec. 5, 2007, on the proposed replacement of the M-32 Business Spur in Hillman available for review. These documents include a copy of all written and oral comments received by MDOT regarding the proposed bridge replacement.

WHEN: The public hearing documents are available through the end of February, when the Finding of No Significant Impact, the final step in the environmental clearance process, will be issued.

WHERE: Four locations:

Hillman-Wright Library
121 W. Second St.
Hillman

Hillman Village Offices
24220 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hillman

MDOT North Region Office
1088 M-32 East
Gaylord

Michigan Department of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Planning
425 W. Ottawa St.
Lansing

BACKGROUND: MDOT has determined that the existing M-32 Business Spur Bridge is functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. The department held a public hearing on Dec. 5, 2007 regarding the Environmental Assessment and Programmatic Section 4 (f) Evaluation that was prepared on a range of possible alternatives, including the environmental impacts associated with each alternative.

The existing M-32 Business Spur Bridge crosses the Thunder River in Hillman in Montmorency County and is a rare, two-span concrete camelback bridge built in 1922. The bridge is historically significant and protected by Section 4 (f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. Bridge repair or replacement is necessary to correct the bridge's deteriorating conditions and functional deficiencies.

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