$11.7M federal grant announced for Ferrysburg’s Smith’s Bayou Bridge

An $11.7 million federal grant will help rebuild the Smith's Bayou Bridge in Ferrysburg.

The bridge was temporarily deemed unsafe in 2019 before additional weight restrictions allowed the bridge to reopen. The city has been trying to secure funding for repairs since.

“For five years, the city of Ferrysburg has been struggling without a critical piece of infrastructure. The price tag to fix the superstructure the right way, is simply too large for a local community to carry on its own–it’s up to state and federal partners to prioritize these types of projects, and that’s exactly what I did,” says U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), who announced the grant.

“I have tirelessly advocated for this federal assistance and I am thrilled that help is finally on the way, to ensure the safety and economic prosperity not only for Ferrysburg and the tri-cities region, but the entire West Michigan economy. Fortifying our bridges is one way to build a better, safer future for the next generation of Michiganders.”

Courtesy city of FerrysburgSmith's Bayou Bridge connects Ferrysburg's east and west sides.

The bridge was shut down for several months in 2019 due to safety concerns. Residents banded together and — with approval from the Ferrysburg City Council — paid for a new inspection.

This time, the new engineering company determined the bridge was safe — as long as its load limit was reduced to 20 tons. The bridge is re-inspected twice annually to ensure it is still safe. 

The Michigan Department of Transportation is currently working on the new design. Bids will be due in June of 2026.

The bridge is supported by pre-stressed concrete box beams. The rebar within the box beams is broken, causing the concrete beams to bounce when stressed by excessively heavy loads. The superstructure will be removed and replaced with new.  The piers will remain and be repaired as part of the project. 

“Smith’s Bridge is a transportation asset not only for the city of Ferrysburg but for the West Michigan region,” says Ferrysburg Mayor Richard Carlson. 

The Ferrysburg bridge is one of seven bridges being funded by the $34.2 million Federal Highway Administration grant. The $11.7 million federal investment in the Smith’s Bayou Bridge is the only grant awarded to a West Michigan project.

“It will be a safe bridge for everybody,” City Manager Craig Bessinger says. “We expect it to last 75 years or better.”