The railroad bridge on West Hallett Street was forced to close for two weeks after it was hit by a garbage truck last year. Catherine Maxwell | Collegian
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to raise the West Hallett Street railroad overpass after numerous collisions, but construction won’t begin before 2027.
City Manager David Mackie said the bridge is causing serious problems due to its low clearance height of 9 feet, 8 inches. MDOT has not selected a specific new height, but currently estimates costs of around $8 million.
“The low clearance height has caused numerous vehicles to strike the bridge,” Mackie said. “These incidents not only disrupt traffic, but also pose safety risks.”
After a garbage truck hit the bridge in October 2023, West Hallett Street was forced to close for two weeks, which led Mackie to reiterate the severity of the problem to MDOT.
“We have consistently shared our concerns with MDOT about the bridge’s low clearance and the collisions it causes,” Mackie said. “While the City of Hillsdale has added flashing lights and new signage to warn drivers, these measures have not been fully effective in preventing accidents. We have stressed the need for a more permanent solution.”
MDOT is working on the first step toward a permanent fix, according to Michael Frezell, deputy communications director for MDOT.
“We are in the process of hiring a consultant to evaluate options for the replacement of the Hallett Street bridge,” Frezell said. “Once the evaluation is complete, the plan would be to move forward on a final design and construction contract to implement the project.”
He also said alternatives to a complete replacement are on the table, such as raising the height of the current bridge for added safety.
The bridge was originally constructed in 1915 and has been used primarily by the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, according to HistoricBridges.org.
The project will likely require driving detours for part of West Hallett Street.
“Construction will impact the roadway, which would likely be closed for around five months,” Frezell said. “Other impacts could include impacts to the rail corridor on each side of the bridge and the other infrastructure that is located in the area.”
Hillsdale residents who use the road in their day-to-day life will be rerouted by the construction. Ian Church, associate professor of philosophy at Hillsdale College, said he drives under the bridge after dropping off his children at school.
“It will be annoying to those folks who need to take the long way around during those five months,” Church said. “But given the number of accidents that have occurred at that bridge, clearly signs weren’t fixing the problem.”
According to Frezell, the rail bridge is also used by both commercial and tourist train services that bring people in and through Hillsdale each year, and construction would interrupt both kinds of rail travel.
Mackie stressed the need for effective communication and cooperation between MDOT and the City of Hillsdale when dealing with the project.
“The city’s role is to collaborate with MDOT, provide input on the project’s impact on local traffic, and ensure residents are informed about the progress,” Mackie said. “Our primary goal is to ensure the clearance height is increased to prevent future collisions — this project will address the clearance issue and improve overall safety. We are pleased that MDOT has prioritized this issue.”