Klinger Lake bridge closed for repairs

Residents on the east side of Klinger Lake will have to adjust their driving times starting Wednesday, when a bridge-replacement project starts.

The $415,000 task centers on the nearly 20-foot-long bridge that straddles Sherman Mill Creek, which flows into the 830-acre lake.

St. Joseph County Road Commission Managing Director John Lindsey said the replacement was a budgeted expense and work was intentionally delayed until after Labor Day to minimize inconvenience for the area’s seasonal residents.

Work will take six weeks and is necessary due to the limited weight the current bridge can support and its age.

The project is being overseen by Battle Creek-based Hoffman Bros. Inc. Lindsey said the replacement will be a box-culvert bridge able to withstand a greater amount of weight than the current bridge.