State Representative Jennifer Haase (Richmond) joins (from left) William Blumerich, Chair of the St. Clair County Road Commission; James Warner, Director of Engineering for the St. Clair County Road Commission; and St. Clair County Road Commissioners Kenneth Foerster, Kirk Weston and Tim LaLonde in front of the Wadhams Road Bridge in Kimball Township on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Officials broke ground for the $16 million project that is expected to create more than 200 local jobs, according to the St. Clair County Road Commission.
KIMBALL TWP. – State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond) today applauded the groundbreaking of the Wadhams Road Bridge project in Kimball Township. The $16 million project is expected to create more than 200 local jobs, according to the St. Clair County Road Commission.
"The road commission has been diligently working to secure funding for this important project and they should be commended for their hard work," said Haase, who attended the groundbreaking. "In these tough times, we must do everything we can to invest in our workers and in our community. Expanding the bridge will create more than 200 local jobs and increase safety for our residents. The project is a great example of what can be done when everyone works together."
The St. Clair County Road Commission worked to fund the reconstruction and expansion of the Wadhams Road Bridge for years. The project became more urgent when it was announced that much of the traffic detoured by the Blue Water Bridge Plaza expansion will pass over the Wadhams Road Bridge.
Officials knew right away that the bridge – built in 1941 – was in no shape to handle such a large influx of additional traffic. However, in order to make the reconstruction a reality, the county needed additional funding.
In January, Haase joined the fight and, along with state lawmakers and local officials, eventually secured the additional $5 million in funding needed from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
The two-year project, which broke ground today, will expand the Wadhams Road Bridge from two lanes to four lanes and make the structure safer for residents to use.
"This is an extremely important project for our county and will take care of one of our biggest needs," said Jim Warner, Director of Engineering for the St. Clair County Road Commission. "The funding for this project has been a grassroots effort, starting at the local level and strongly supported by Representative Haase. We appreciate her efforts and all those who have helped to get this project off the ground."