Lift cylinder needed to repair Bicentennial Bridge has arrived, work set to begin

Courtesy of the City of St. Jospeh

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- After being "secured to masted navigation" in late March due to lift cylinder issue, on Monday, St. Jospeh Harbormaster Mike Moran announced that the replacement lift cylinder has arrived, and the repair process is set to begin soon.

"The replacement lift cylinder for the Business Loop 94 Bicentennial Bridge at mile 1.3 over the St. Joseph River between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor has arrived," Moran said. "The cylinder will be loaded onto a barge and then moved into position for installation."

During this process, the bridge will remain secured in the lowered position, meaning vessels that are able to pass under the bridge while it is lowered may do so at any time, but are requested to transit the area slowly and with caution.

"A barge will be under the bridge during the installation. Vehicle traffic will have single lane restrictions during the process," Moran said. "Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this bridge repair."

No timeline was announced as to when the work is expected to be complete, allowing taller ships to pass through the channel.