The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will partner with the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) to host a public information meeting Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. to share details about planned project to replace the Sashabaw Road bridge over the Clinton River, between Woodhall Lake and Lake Oakland in Independence Township.
The meeting will take place at Independence Township Hall, 6483 Waldon Center Drive in the township. The meeting will be open house format: There will not be a formal presentation, but anyone interested can stop in at any time to speak with MDOT and RCOC representatives.
The bridge project is expected to take place in late summer/early fall of 2027 or in 2028. During the project, both Sashabaw Road at the Clinton River, and the Clinton River under the bridge will be closed. The road is expected to be closed for approximately 150 days.
Once the project starts, it is estimated that the Clinton River will be closed to boating traffic underneath the bridge for seven consecutive days to demolish the existing bridge. An additional river closure of another seven consecutive days is expected later in the project to set the new bridge structure. The contractor will be required to provide a 30-day notice prior the closure of the waterway.
Because the Clinton River is a state-designated water trail, RCOC and MDOT are seeking public feedback to help recognize and address any concerns that may result from the minor, or what is referred to in legal terminology as de minimus, closure of the river for 14 days. Comments must be submitted by April 1, 2026. Comments can be provided at the public meeting or by phone or email to Charlie Stein at (616) 318-0124 or Charles.Stein@aecom.com.
The bridge is under the jurisdiction of RCOC, but will be reconstructed through an MDOT program, known as “bridge bundling” which involves bundling a group of bridge replacement projects into a single contract to get a better project cost and to improve efficiencies over the various bridge projects included in the bundle. As part of the MDOT bridge bundling program, the project will be led by MDOT staff and paid for primarily with state funds.
The bridge bundling also allows flexibility for the contractor to choose the project schedule but requires that the contractor complete construction on the bridge within 180 days once work has begun.
Meeting accessibility
Accommodations can be made for anyone requiring mobility, visual, hearing, written or other assistance for participation. Large-print materials, auxiliary aids or the service of interpreters, signers or readers are available upon request. For assistance, call the Road Commission at 248-645-2000 and ask for the Engineering Department. Requests should be made at least five days prior to the meeting date. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide the requested accommodations or an effective alternative, but accommodations may not be guaranteed.
