Drivers who use the 45th Street bridge between White Oak and Southwood Drives in Munster are going to need to find an alternate route for at least five months starting May 27.
Work on the bridge started last month, and initially, traffic was supposed to be reduced to one lane in each direction, Lake County Highway Engineer Duane Alverson said in a release. As they started demolition on the north half of the bridge, however, they found the substructure “in poor condition.”
“The concrete was heavily deteriorated with wide cracking and corroded reinforcing steel,” Alverson said. “To construct the new north side piers, additional substructure removal was required at the center of the bridge.
“The additional removal became a safety concern for both the traveling public and the construction workers. The safest route forward is to close the bridge for replacement.”
The closure will reduce the project duration and costs as well as be safer, he said.
Pending the weather or other circumstances, the bridge is expected to be finished by October 31 instead of December, he said. The closure has been coordinated with emergency services, schools, and the post office.
Both Ridge Road and Main Street will be used to detour traffic, with trucks using Main Street.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
