FERRYSBURG, Mich. — The Smith’s Bayou Bridge has stood for more than 150 years in the town of Ferrysburg.

After years of back and forth over the condition of the bridge, funding was finally secured.

Thanks to a nearly $12 million grant from the state of Michigan, the city will make the necessary repairs.

The grant is being awarded thanks to the help of Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, who helped secure the funding through the local MDOT agency’s Bridge Bundling program.

“(Scholten) got $11.7 million for this bridge,” Ferrysburg City Manager Craig Bessinger said. “And that will replace the superstructure, leaving the piers and then replacing the top. So the design and construction engineer is not included in that cost, but the funding for that part is.”

MDOT is helping fund the bridge after COVID-19 money budgeted for the city was returned to the federal government.

Smith’s Bridge has had its fair share of scares over the years, following the bridge’s closure in 2019.

The bridge reopened with a weight limit as its importance to the city cannot be overstated.

“The bridge has been vital in connecting the eastern part of the state to our city,” Bessinger said. “With this bridge, the response time for emergency personnel to get to that side of town is reduced.”

Former Ferrysburg Mayor Rebecca Hopp helped start work on the bridge nearly seven years ago with the Bridge Bundling initiative. She sees it used almost every day.

“There’s really no slowing down on deck,” Hopp said. “There are busier times during business hours when people use it, but you can still see traffic on the bridge.”

The last renovations to the Smith’s Bayou Bridge took place in 2008. Residents like Ulrich Kuester are ready to see the bridge fully repaired.

“It’s just a beautiful location, great bridge, super convenient,” Kuester said. “Not just going to work and coming back, but taking a bike path, cycling around the lake.”

The city told FOX 17 the bridge is expected to close by fall 2026 for these repairs, and the project could take two to three years.

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