UPDATE: After several hours, the northbound side of the bridge reopened to traffic just before 4 p.m. The southbound side of the bridge reopened around 4:20 p.m.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - The Grand Haven Drawbridge is experiencing mechanical problems.
According to the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, the sections will not re-seat together per the bridge operator. This is causing traffic back-ups for northbound and southbound traffic for miles.
The bridge got stuck after 1 p.m.
The Michigan Department of Transportation's Muskegon Transportation Service Center Operations Engineer Marc Fredrickson told 13 ON YOUR SIDE someone was in route from Lansing to help fix the problem. That person is expected to arrive around 2:45 p.m.
Fredrickson also said there is someone on scene now doing as much as they can until help arrives. He estimated this issue occurs with the drawbridge once or twice a year -- usually early in the season.
Grand Haven Public Schools said that due to the drawbridge being stuck, many buses will likely be running behind schedule.
Northbound traffic is asked to use M-231 as a detour. Southbound traffic is asked to use I-96 east to the M-231 bypass.
Shoreline Communications, a West Michigan company that sells DIRECTV and AT&T devices and services, offered a small incentive for people stuck in the traffic. They posted on Facebook that they will be doing a giveaway for people who got stuck because of the bridge.
The Grand Haven Tribune contributed to this reporting.
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