Built 80 years ago, the bridge on Guenther Road needs some work.

The Lima Township Board re-introduced the improvement project idea at its July 8 meeting. The township wants a better idea of the potential costs, so it’s now looking to the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) for an updated estimate on construction and engineering costs.

The bridge over Mill Creek is located south of Liberty Road. It was built in 1944. It has not been reconstructed since.

The desire is to replace the superstructure of the bridge and make necessary repairs to the existing abutments. If it moves forward, the project would be a shared agreement between the WCRC and Lima. The WCRC previously put forth a proposal for the Rehabilitation of the Guenther Road bridge over the Mill Creek in 2022, but it was put on the backburner then.

In 2022, the WCRC posed two options: a timber bridge package and a galvanized steel bridge package.  The WCRC said both superstructure options include removing the existing barriers, deck and beams and reconstructing a new superstructure.

The bridge project will again be on the township board’s agenda in August. The township has a budget for the project planned for in 2025.