PORTLAND — The city has closed a bridge over the Grand River because of safety concerns.
A routine inspection that began July 30 indicated the Bridge Street Bridge, also known as Veterans Memorial Bridge, may not be structurally sound, officials said in a news release posted to the city's Facebook page on Aug. 13.
The bridge was immediately closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic "out of an abundance of caution," they said.
"Preliminary engineering evaluation indicates that the bridge's current load-carrying capacity cannot be confirmed to safely support travel at this time," the message said, adding the bridge will stay closed "until a complete evaluation can be conducted and the appropriate next steps are determined."
The bridge was scheduled for repairs in 2028. But given the findings, the city is working with its engineers and the Michigan Department of Transportation to "explore all available options, including whether the planned repair schedule should be accelerated or other measures are necessary."
"The city understands that this closure may cause inconvenience for residents, businesses, and visitors and appreciates the community's patience and cooperation while this evaluation is completed," the message said.
Contact Ken Palmer at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Portland closes bridge over Grand River due to safety concerns