Michigan weather: Strong winds cause partial closure of Mackinac Bridge
'Bridge personnel are stationed at both ends of the structure to provide instructions regarding how and when to proceed across the bridge,' officials say
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Your support makes all the difference.Strong winds in Michigan have caused a bridge connecting the state’s upper and lower peninsulas to partially close.
The Michigan Department of Transportation said that the Mackinac Bridge had been closed to all vehicles except passenger cars, passenger vans and empty pickup vehicles.
“Winds are blowing across the bridge surface in excess of 50 miles per hour,” the Mackinac Bridge Authority said in a statement.
The National Weather Service Detroit issued wind advisories early Friday morning warning that winds could reach 40 to 45 miles per hour with a possibility of climbing to 50 miles per hour.
Officials warned that such winds would pose the greatest threat south and east of Flint.
“Gusty winds in excess of 40 [miles per hour] will accompany line of showers and a few storms moving across southeast Michigan through mid afternoon,” the weather service stated on Twitter.
The five-mile-long bridge, nicknamed “Mighty Mac” connects St Ignace on its north end to Mackinaw City on its south end. More than 25,000 people walked across the bridge earlier this month as part of the Mackinac Bridge Annual Walk on Labour Day.
On Friday, the bridge authority advised the public to reduce their vehicle’s speed to 20 miles per hour as they approach the bridge.
“Bridge personnel are stationed at both ends of the structure to provide instructions regarding how and when to proceed across the bridge,” the statement read.
Officials have also asked drivers to “exercise appropriate caution” when crossing the bridge.
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