Grand Haven Bridge Repairs Cause U.S. 31 Lane Closures

Major repairs have started for the drawbridge in Grand Haven but that will also mean traffic delays and lance closures.

According to WZZM, if you have to use the drawbridge in Grand Haven there are single lane closures that will run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The right lane will be shut down for for a couple of weeks until the bridge is fixed.

M-104 will stay open during the bridge repairs and if weather gets bad the lane will be opened to help move traffic.

The drawbridge will be getting a new motor drive system. The whole system will be cleaned, electronics replaced and most of the machinery will be repainted.

The ramp to M-104 will remain open during the project.

The motor drive system will cost a half million dollars along with total cost of repairs will cost tax payers nearly a million dollars.

The city is has been looking into building a whole new bridge that would be taller so it wouldn't have to be opened as much reducing traffic delays but no official deal has been made at this time.

The ultimate bridge would be 60 feet high and it would not need to be a drawbridge system since it would be a fixed bridge. Anything lower would need a drawbridge mechanism according to the U.S. Coast Guard.