Portage Lake Lift Bridge project bids over cost estimates

HOUGHTON-HANCOCK — The much-talked-about Portage Lake Lift Bridge Rehab project in Houghton, which was scheduled for this winter, has hit a snag.

Dan Weingarten from the Michigan Department of Transportation Superior Region Office in Ishpeming confirmed bids on the project came in substantially over MDOT’s cost estimates.

Bids were opened on Friday.

Now, the State Transportation Commission could accept a bid, ask for re-bids, or modify the project to keep it within the original $5.5 million budget.

The project is scheduled to begin in mid-December, but re-bids or changes could delay that.  The Commission is expected to make a decision on the bids by December 4.