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One week left for Lift Bridge refurbishing

HANCOCK/HOUGHTON – The 18-month maintenance project on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge is nearly complete, with one week’s worth of work left, according to Al Anderson.

Anderson, Michigan Department of Transportation project manager at the MDOT Ishpeming Transportation Service Center, said the lift mechanisms for the bridge deck will be tested beginning Monday.

“It will be the whole week,” he said. “They’ll actually be throughout the day, and some at night.”

Anderson said delays should last about as long as it takes to let boat traffic pass under the bridge.

“All the delays should be 15 minutes or less,” he said.

The contractor for the $8.39 million project is Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Zenith Tech. The project included cable replacement and balance chain rehabilitation, painting, electrical and mechanical upgrades, placement of warning and barrier gates, concrete patching, and deck repair, parts of which were deteriorated.

Although a United States Coast Guard boat has been the only vessel to pass under the bridge recently, Anderson said the bridge boat season has started.

“Boat traffic is already open,” he said.

Anderson said the bridge maintenance project is on schedule, and it’s still expected to be finished by the end of April.

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