ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Following three days of closures, the Mackinac Bridge reopened to motorists Thursday morning.
On Monday, the Mackinac Bridge Authority closed the bridge for about three hours due to falling ice. The bridge was closed for approximately ten hours on Tuesday, reopening around 7:00 p.m. At 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the bridge was once again closed, with the Authority citing “unprecedented” amounts of accumulated ice and chunks as large as loaves of bread falling onto cars.
On Thursday, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced that the bridge had been reopened at 8:44 a.m. However, high winds of 35 – 49 miles per hour have led the Bridge Authority to require escorts for certain ‘high profile vehicles’ crossing the bridge. According to the Bridge Authority’s website, high profile vehicles include pickup trucks with campers, U-Haul or Ryder trucks, any vehicles pulling a boat, semi-tractors with enclosed trailers, trailers with side walls higher than two feet, and cars with small boats, bicycles, or luggage attached to the roof.
Motorists are advised to reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour when approaching the bridge and to be prepared to stop. Personnel are stationed at both ends of the bridge to instruct drivers.
The Bridge Authority is monitoring wind speeds at various points along the bridge. If conditions change, the Authority will implement additional steps and provide updates on mackinacbrige.org.
Anyone planning to travel to the Straits area can tune in to AM radio 530 or 1610 for updates. WZMQ 19 will continue to follow and update bridge conditions as the situation changes.
