Annual MDOT Bridge Inspections Start with the Portage Lake Lift Bridge this Week

The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin annual bridge inspections across the western Upper Peninsula this week. Smaller bridge sections will begin inspections after Wednesday. MDOT crews will work to ensure the safe and reliable use of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge starting today through Wednesday. From 830 am to 11:30 am and from 1 pm to 3 pm from today until Wednesday traffic will be reduced by a single lane. The lane closure today will impact the outside northbound lane of the bridge. Tuesday’s inspection will close the southbound outside lane. Wednesday MDOT will close traffic on the right north and southbound lanes of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. On Thursday crews will inspect the bridge over the Firesteel River on M-38, the bridge over the East Branch of the Ontonagon River on US -45, and the bridge over the Ontonagon River on M-28. Friday’s inspections will include the bridge over the Sturgeon River on US-41 in Chassell, and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge on westbound US–2.