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The Michigan Department of Transportation restarted work on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge Monday, and its effects were immediately felt by area commuters. The left lane is closed in both directions. At one point yesterday, backups were seen towards Santori’s Corner in Hancock and Franklin Square in Houghton.
The $3.9 million investment in the bridge has many components, including painting and deck patching, plus mechanical repairs. Spokesman Dan Weingarten says conditions that led to Monday’s traffic snarl will exist for several weeks.
The project won’t be fully complete until 2022.
There are now four construction projects clogging US-41 alone between Chassell and Hancock, a roughly 10 miles stretch. That is in addition to municipal and county jobs, making area roads touch and go. Weingarten says that drivers should avoid letting frustration set in and resist distractions like cell phones while traveling through construction sites. That will help ensure safety of workers and commuters alike.
