A new weight limit is being applied to a bridge in Van Buren County after a routine inspection identified structural issues with it.

Van Buren County Road Commission Managing Director Bret Witkowski tells us they found deterioration in the bridge deck on the bridge that carries County Road 657 over the east branch of the Paw Paw River in Antwerp Township.

“ Basically, supports are failing, and there’s really not an easy way to fix that other than to redo it,” Witkowski said.

So, that’s what the road commission will do. Witkowski says it’ll have to budget about $850,000 to replace the bridge next year.

State funds may be difficult to secure for the work.

“ What’s interesting is a bridge qualifies for funding possibly if it’s 20 feet or more. This on

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