Decatur — Early activity along Monroe Street signaled the start of the long‑planned US‑224 bridge deck replacement, as crews were seen Thursday morning erecting detour signs and unloading equipment near the St. Marys River.
The project, scheduled to begin April 27, will fully close the Wendell Macklin Bridge for several months while workers remove the aging deck and install a new concrete surface designed to extend the structure’s life.
Residents driving through downtown noticed workers placing “Road Closed Ahead” and “Detour” markers at key intersections, including Jackson Street, which will carry most local traffic during the closure. Flatbeds delivered barricades, traffic barrels, and milling equipment to the staging area on the east side of the bridge.
The closure is expected to last up to four months, with an estimated reopening in late August, weather permitting.
For now, the signs going up are the first visible reminder that one of Decatur’s busiest crossings is about to go quiet as crews prepare for the heavy work ahead.