Planned opening this week of M-66

A section of a major north-south route in St. Joseph County – closed since April – will reopen by the end of the week.

Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schirripa said work related to the former bridge on M-66, just north of the M-86 split to Colon, is wrapping up and the road is scheduled to open on or before Saturday.

Schirripa said the project involved removal of a bridge that previously spanned what was once a freight rail line.

The gap under the bridge has been filled and the former bridge will now be a hot-mix asphalt roadway. The soil used to fill the gap previously under the bridge is a special mix that meets density standards, Schirripa said.

Nashville Construction Co. of Barry County was the general contractor and cost of the project was about $800,000.

The bridge closed April 15 and is opening a week later than originally scheduled.