The Senator Tom Casperson Memorial Bridge, which spans over the Escanaba River north of Escanaba, is shown. Work on the bridge is one of the local road and bridge projects planned planned by the Michigan Department of Transportation over the next several years. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA — The Michigan Department of Transportation has big plans for the Escanaba area in the coming years

The first project planned for the area is maintenance work on the Senator Tom Casperson Memorial Bridge, which spans over the Escanaba River north of Escanaba. That work is expected to kick off in June.

During the construction period, motorists can expect lane closures. Work will begin with repairs to the expansion joint on the north end of the bridge deck, which will require a single right-lane closure of southbound US-2. The repair and lane closure is expected to take about two weeks.

In late summer, MDOT crews will complete an epoxy overlay on the bridge deck. The project is expected to cost around $290,000.

“We are still working on the proposal,” said Dan Weingarten, MDOT Superior Region media representative. “The project is anticipated to be let for bids in May.”

The overlay project will help preserve the bridge deck by sealing cracks and keeping salt and water out of the deck.

Work on the overlay will require intermittent single-lane closures in both directions, and the project is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.

The work will also require the non-motorized pathway that crosses the bridge to be closed for a day or two.

“We plan to keep the northbound shoulder open while the pathway is getting the overlay. This will allow bikes and pedestrians to use the northbound shoulder while the path is closed,” said Weingarten.

Looking into the future, MDOT has other big plans for the Escanaba area, including a major reconstruction of US-2 from North 30th Street to 9th Avenue in the city of Escanaba.

That project is slated to begin in 2027, with a second phase in 2028 reconstructing 9th Avenue to Danforth Road.

According to Weingarten, plans for the project are in the very early design sages and MDOT is currently in discussions with stakeholders in the area. However there are a few things being talked about by MDOT.

One topic of discussion is proposed non-motorized improvements for the corridor.

MDOT is coordinating with the railroad about potential changes to the railroad viaduct near Kentucky Fried Chicken as part of the project, and initial plans include replacing the railroad overpass with a wider span to allow pedestrian connectivity.

The city of Escanaba has been working to combine all of its roadwork projects with utility improvements — a necessary step to avoid high costs and repeated roadwork in areas affected by the city’s lead service line replacement project. MDOT is also working with the city to allow utility improvements to take place in conjunction with the roadwork.

More information about the corridor project will be released as MDOT as the plans progress. The project as a whole is being funded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act.