South Michigan News

Senator Roger Hauck has secured $1.32 million in state funding to repair the Harding Road structure over the West Branch of the Chippewa River in Mecosta County. The funding was included in the final budget recently approved by the Michigan Legislature and signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Hauck explained the urgency of the project, stating, “Everyone knows we need more money to repair our roads and bridges, and how we were going to do that was actually a point of contention in the recent budget negotiations prior to final passage. I put in this funding request because the structure has already been labeled a serious concern. The next step was closing the road altogether, which would have significantly disrupted local travel while the bridge continued to deteriorate.”

The Harding Road structure is not classified as a bridge under current federal or state formulas due to its size, making it ineligible for traditional bridge repair funds. This left Mecosta County with limited options for addressing its condition.

A survey conducted in 2024 found the structure to be in “serious condition,” resulting in a 9-ton weight limit being imposed. Without intervention, local officials anticipated that closure would be necessary.

“The county doesn’t have the money to take on the sole responsibility to fix the structure, and without state and federal help, there weren’t many other options on the table,” Hauck said. “The bridge was a difficult case because of its classification — or lack thereof. If this line item wasn’t included in the general budget, necessary repairs would have gone by the wayside until the structure eventually reached a point where closure was the only option.”

Tim Nestle, Superintendent of the Mecosta County Road Commission, emphasized the importance of maintaining access for both residents and emergency services: “As you know, the Harding Road structure has been deficient for several years and not eligible for critical bridge funding in its current state. Without this funding, the next steps would be to close the road to all traffic, restricting quick access for residents and emergency services in the area. The nearby Winchester Dam is also a state recreational access point to a chain of eight lakes in the Martiny Township area of Mecosta County. Closing the road would restrict access to anyone coming in from north of the structure attempting to access the boat launch.”

The allocation is expected to allow repairs that will keep Harding Road open for traffic and maintain access for community members as well as emergency responders.