CHARLEVOIX- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will invest $6.3 million to replace 20,000 pounds of structural steel on the US-31 bascule bridge in Charlevoix, including the bridge’s tread and track components, which facilitate the structure’s operation. The project also includes work on the bridge railings, electrical components, joints, curbs, and gutters.
Estimated end date:
Late May 2024
Traffic restrictions:
When the project begins, work will require reducing the bridge to one lane open in each direction until the end of December.
Beginning in January, traffic will be shifted to the west half of the bridge for approximately six weeks, with one lane open in each direction. In mid- to late-February, traffic will be shifted to the east half of the bridge for another six weeks, again with one lane open in each. During this time, the bridge will be closed to marine traffic in the channel that would require the bridge to open.
From January until April, the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for up to 10 nights, with two weeks’ notice. Traffic will be detoured on US-31, M-66, M-32, and US-131. For as many as 12 nights, and with 48 hours’ notice, the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic intermittently for 15-minute periods between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The exact schedule of these expected closures has not yet been determined.
From mid-April until the project is completed, the channel will reopen to marine traffic while remaining work is finished. The bridge will return to normal operation for vehicle and marine traffic.
