Farm Lane's Bridge Construction Sparks Disruptions, Affecting Students' Commute on Bus Alternative Routes

The construction of Farm Lance Bridge has significantly affected students commuting to their respective schools. Reports indicate that several routes have experienced disruptions since the last month, and the alternative route is known for its bumpy trips. Thus, this disruption is anticipated to persist for approximately five months.

(Photo : State News/Matthew Williams )

Students' Bumpy Ride on Bus Alternative Routes

Regarding class, many students take buses operated by the Capital Area Transportation Authority, also known as CATA. However, during the current semester, several students have reported that the new bus routes have been challenging to navigate. Since December, as stated by Erica Venton, the manager of Transportation Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Communications, nine different CATA bus routes have been impacted by road construction on Farm Lane.

Venton indicated that the Farm Lane Bridge is open to people but not automobiles and will remain closed to vehicles until June. Kyla Hardy, a junior studying African American studies, noted that late buses have an equal impact on two groups of students: off-campus and on-campus. While many off-campus students, like Hardy, must drive a considerable distance to attend classes, on-campus students are not likely to have access to automobiles when living in dorms.

While traveling to university, Hardy takes route 26. As a result of the road construction, route 26 buses deviated from their usual route along Abbott Road and Farm Lane to Bogue Street. On the other hand, since the routes have been altered, Hardy stated that the Transit app still needs to be completely updated. 

Students may be required to wait at a bus stop for a transport that does not exist due to the inclusion of bus stops for obsolete routes in the Transit app. Accordingly, Hardy used to wait between five and ten minutes at the bus stop during the autumn semester; now, the wait time is nearly 30 minutes. 

Also Read: Construction Automation with iPad-Controlled Robot Upgrade Made Possible By Dusty Field's Printer

Farm Lane's Bridge Construction 

In 2019 and 2021, the capacity limits of the bridge were reduced by the Michigan Department of Transportation, leading to the subsequent closure of the northbound lane. Every six months, the department now conducts inspections of the bridge. According to Fred Woodhams, a representative for the International Police Federation, large commercial trucks such as fire engines and garbage trucks will not be permitted if the load restriction is decreased much further. As the sole bridge on campus above the 100-year floodplain, Woodhams emphasized the bridge's significance as an essential component. 

Moreover, the project, which is estimated to cost $44 million, involves:

• The demolition and reconstruction of the Farm Lane bridge.

• The construction of a new pedestrian bridge.

• The relocation of essential utilities that are carried by the bridge.

Reconstruction of Farm Lane between Auditorium Road and North Shaw Lane, including the intersections, will also be included in this project. As part of the construction of the pedestrian bridge and the relocation of the utility lines, the bridge and the road crossings that were adjacent to it were closed to vehicular traffic during the summer semester of 2023. 

Reconstruction of the bridge, constructed in 1936, is scheduled to occur during the spring semester and a portion of the summer semester of 2024. At the meeting that took place in February 2023, the Board of Trustees of MSU gave its approval to move forward with the project.

Related Article: CAP Project Construction to Close Philadelphia's I-95 for 36 Hours in February