March 18, 2016 – More tests of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge have been scheduled for March 21-25 as part of ongoing maintenance work. The testing will likely result in brief delays for motorists.
The contractor for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be performing test lifts of the bridge span, requiring brief closures of the bridge to traffic.
Motorists should expect delays of 10 to 15 minutes, roughly equivalent to a standard bridge lift for marine traffic, throughout the day. Traffic will be allowed to clear and resume normal flow between test lifts.
The $8.4 million project involves upgrades and preventive maintenance on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock. The project started in mid-December 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-April.