M-43 near Grand Ledge to remain closed until Sept. 30

GRAND LEDGE - – A cracked culvert beneath a stretch of M-43 between Grand Ledge and Sunfield has prompted an emergency road closure and a $750,000 replacement.

Kari Arend, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said maintenance staff discovered the “significant cracking” during an inspection last week. She said the damage could create an “unstable road base” but hasn’t yet.

“The pipe itself is starting to settle,” said Arend. “In the interest of safety we decided to close the roadway fully and implement emergency repairs.”

The roadway, west of Oneida Road, was closed Aug. 27 and a detour has been put in place.

Arend said two culverts underneath the roadway that date back to the 1940s will be replaced. Construction is expected to start Wednesday and be complete by Sept. 30.

The work will cost an estimated $750,000.

Arend said only a handful of homes are located on the closed stretch of road. Access to those properties will be provided, she said.

“We do want to get these repairs done as quickly as possible,” she said.