Capitol News

Senator Roger Hauck has secured $1.32 million in funding for repairs to a Mecosta County structure on Harding Road, which spans the West Branch of the Chippewa River. The allocation was included in the final state budget passed by the Michigan Legislature and signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The Harding Road structure had been classified as being in “serious condition” after a 2024 survey, resulting in a 9-ton weight limit being imposed. Due to its size, it does not meet the technical definition of a bridge and is therefore not eligible for federal or state bridge repair funds under current guidelines.

“Everyone knows we need more money to repair our roads and bridges, and how we were going to do that was actually a point of contention in the recent budget negotiations prior to final passage,” said Hauck, R-Mt. Pleasant. “I put in this funding request because the structure has already been labeled a serious concern. The next step was closing the road altogether, which would have significantly disrupted local travel while the bridge continued to deteriorate.”

Hauck noted that without this specific line item in the general budget, there would have been few options left for maintaining access over the river: “The county doesn’t have the money to take on the sole responsibility to fix the structure, and without state and federal help, there weren’t many other options on the table,” he said. “The bridge was a difficult case because of its classification — or lack thereof. If this line item wasn’t included in the general budget, necessary repairs would have gone by the wayside until the structure eventually reached a point where closure was the only option.”

Tim Nestle, superintendent of Mecosta County Road Commission, also supported securing these funds due to concerns about accessibility for residents and emergency services: “As you know, the Harding Road structure has been deficient for several years and not eligible for critical bridge funding in its current state,” he said. “Without this funding, the next steps would be to close the road to all traffic, restricting quick access for residents and emergency services in the area. The nearby Winchester Dam is also a state recreational access point to a chain of eight lakes in the Martiny Township area of Mecosta County. Closing the road would restrict access to anyone coming in from north of the structure attempting to access the boat launch.”

This repair project aims to keep Harding Road open and maintain transportation routes for local communities as well as visitors using recreational sites nearby.