The overpass bridge on White Lake Drive has been closed for repairs after a hole was discovered in the road Tuesday night, the White Lake Fire Authority posted on Facebook.
The closure, which Michigan Department of Transportation regional communications director John Richard said is scheduled to last until Jan. 30, will also affect the northbound exit ramp for exit 126 on US-31 and the right lane of the northbound highway.
The hole opened after a car hit a pothole on the bridge, said White Lake Fire Authority chief Pete McCarthy. Whitehall police chief Brandon Mahoney said the police department aided in helping to close down the bridge to traffic later that evening, and McCarthy contacted Whitehall District Schools transportation supervisor Penny Evert to alert her that school buses would need to find alternate routes.
McCarthy said he was alerted to the closure by the Muskegon County Road Commission at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, which led to the quick response on social media.
These issues are not that uncommon, Richard said, especially since many of the bridge decks were originally constructed in the 1960s and are approaching the end of their expected use lives. A full replacement of the deck was already scheduled for 2028.
The uncommon part is the closure of the entire bridge. Usually similar holes can be patched while closing only one lane of traffic on a bridge, but since this hole is close to the center line, officials determined the safe move would be to close the entire bridge for the time being. Crews are slated to pour the concrete for the patch next Monday, Jan. 12.
"It's always a crapshoot in the winter," Richard said. "The milder temperatures are somewhat helpful. It's supposed to be on the warmer side for January the next couple weeks. The warm-ups and the freezes are what cause a lot of the potholes in the first place."
Richard added that the bridge itself remains structurally sound and highway drivers should not have concerns.
"We'll keep patching (the deck) until the project in 2028, when we'll completely replace the entire deck," Richard said.
McCarthy noted that bridge deck repairs are also slated for the overpasses on the Colby Street and Fruitvale Road exits in coming years.
Richard said it's always a good time, especially in the winter, to remind drivers to pay close attention to their surroundings when on the road.
"Stay focused and be careful and (do) not tailgate and (do) not speed," Richard said.
