MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the February 10th Planning Commission meeting, the Public Works and Engineering Department requested to construct a bicycle pathway across the Red Cedar River on Okemos Road. This will be a bridge, separate from traffic to provide safer passage for pedestrians.

This plan differs from last year's plan by adding five to ten more feet of length.

"They had reviews done by a structural engineer, and the structural engineer felt that they needed to create separate peers and abuttments for this particular bridge, and that required some adjustments to handle the weight of the bridge and the traffic on the bridge," said Associate Planner Rick Brown.

The bridge's appearance will be similar to the bridge on Marsh Road that goes over the Canadian National Railroad tracks. Planning Commission members said that they hope to see it as a gateway to downtown Okemos. The Public Works and Engineering Department hopes to begin the project this Spring.