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Houghton Council Re-elects Backon, Hears Lift Bridge and Ladies Night Updates

Work on the Houghton-Hancock Bridge this winter is expected to cause few traffic challenges.

City Manager Eric Waara told the Houghton City Council last night that the Michigan Department of Transportation’s upcoming repair plans will likely include some single lane closures, and a limited number of lifts…

“They’re going to be doing some painting and prep work in the machine rooms on the bridge, where the motors are that operate the bridge. They’re going to replace the motors that actually lift the bridge up and down, and some work in the towers. During the summer, they’ll be replacing those finger joints we drive over on the bridge.”

Waara said there may be several extended overnight lifts in January. Lifts could also disrupt snowmobile traffic a bit, because the snow that’s placed on the lower level to allow machines to cross would need to be removed…

“The center span is so finely balanced that if there’s too much snow on it, they can’t move it, so we may have to go and remove some of the snow, so they can lift the bridge, lower it back down, and then we can dump the snow back on it.”

Waara noted that Houghton’s expanded Ladies Night promotion begins this afternoon…

“In the interest of trying to spread people’s shopping event out, 12:00 to 8:00 Thursday and Friday this week.”

Waara said that Houghton’s downtown businesses have made great strides in finding ways to operate safely during the pandemic…

“We’re behaving a lot better now than we were months ago.”

Last night’s meeting was chaired by Robert Backon, who was re-elected mayor at the council’s organizational meeting Tuesday. It was also the first full meeting for new council members Virginia Cole, Joan Suits and Brian Irizarry.

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