Beginning in April, work on the Blue Water Bridge will temporarily cut the number of lanes on the international crossing in half.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says the resurfacing project on the original span of the bridge will last through July 1. That span was built in 1937. Another span was added in 1997. The newer span will carry traffic during the maintenance project.
MDOT and Blue Water Bridge Canada, co-owners of the bridge, are coordinating work that also includes waterproof undercoating.
More from the MDOT's press release:
Limited lane availability during this project will prevent the use of a dedicated lane for NEXUS and F.A.S.T. motorists, as well as buses. Wide loads will be restricted to less than 11 feet, and bicyclists cannot be accommodated during the construction. Due to the longer wait times expected at the border, motorists are encouraged to travel at off-peak hours if possible, or travel south to use the international bridge or tunnel crossings in the Detroit/Windsor area.
Last year, officials say about 5.3 million vehicles crossed the bridge. MDOT says you can follow updates on the project on their Twitter feeds: http://www.twitter.com/MDOT_BWB and http://www.twitter.com/bluewaterbridge.
