More overnight closures on the lift bridge

Only one lane is closed on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, now affecting traffic headed north, but soon work will require 30 minute waits again in the overnight hours. Crews are racing to complete repairs before winter ends construction season.

Contractors will need to raise and lower the bridge between 2:00 and 5:00 AM over parts of the next three weeks. That includes tomorrow and Friday, along with Tuesday through Friday beginning November 2nd and November 9th.

Michigan Department of Transportation Spokesman Dan Weingarten says the schedule is tentative and subject to change. When the closures happen, motor vehicle, bike, and pedestrian traffic will all be affected.

Houghton Manager Eric Waara says that the lane closure on the northbound side has not caused issues like what was seen over the summer. He says the open lane is wider this time around.

All potential detours are still available to the city if needed. For much of July, August, and September cones were placed to prevent traffic from utilizing connecting roads between Shelden and Montezuma Avenues.