HOUGHTON, Mich. — Drivers and residents in Houghton can expect some street work beginning next week as the city and Michigan Department of Transportation prepare for a larger maintenance project on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in 2027.
Work on Montezuma Avenue, Bridge Street and Quincy Street is being done now to make sure the roads are in good shape before the bridge project gets underway. These streets will also be used for traffic control and detours during portions of that future project.
The current work will include adding a short turn lane on Montezuma Avenue and repaving the S-curve along Bridge Street down to Quincy Street, along with the intersection at Shelden Avenue.
The city is also taking advantage of the project to pave the remaining parking areas between Quincy and Bridge Streets. Once the work is complete, the entire block will have new asphalt.
The project is scheduled to begin September 8 and is expected to wrap up around October 2.
Most of the work will be on Montezuma Avenue and Bridge Street, so major traffic and parking problems are not expected for most of the project.
There will, however, be a temporary closure on Quincy Street, including access to the parking lot and parking deck, from Monday, September 21, through Wednesday, September 23. The three-day closure is needed to complete final grading and paving.
The city says the closure has been shortened as much as possible to limit the impact on parking.
Anyone who regularly uses the parking deck or lot and needs help finding temporary parking during the closure can contact the City of Houghton at 906-487-5912 to make arrangements.
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