Mackinac Bridge Repaving Completion Delayed

This is an evening shot of the Mackinac Bridge from the south.

IrishDaego/ Getty Images

Some reports are saying that 1.3 million Michigan residents are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend. If you’re planning on taking a road trip to Northern Michigan this Memorial Day weekend, be sure to pack your patience. The Mackinac Bridge repaving project has been delayed.

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the first season of a two-season repaving project on the Mackinac Bridge’s “north viaduct and approach truss spans,” originally scheduled to be completed by May 23, will not be complete until June 7.

Zenith Tech, the contractor, says it will not be able to meet the original completion date due to more patching work and the inability of fieldwork crews.

"We have not only allowed but strongly encouraged, the contractor to work around the clock and through weekends to get this project wrapped up ahead of the surge of traffic we expect for the holiday weekend," said Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Chief Engineer Cole Cavalieri.

What to expect with the Mackinac Bridge repaving project

Repaving, deck repairs, and joint repairs on the two northbound lanes of the bridge began on March 25. Traffic is being maintained with one lane open in each direction during construction.

"We know that having lane closures on the bridge for Memorial Day travel will result in delays and backups, so we ask customers to be patient and consider crossing at off-peak times," Cavalieri said.

Officials said weekend traffic peaks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., often causing backups. Drivers should prepare for the delays or avoid using the bridge during peak hours.

Vehicles wider than 10 feet can cross once a day between 7 and 8 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. Traffic will be stopped during these crossings.

They also mentioned that work will resume in late March 2025 with the repaving of the two southbound lanes.

The overall project is scheduled to be completed, with all lanes reopened, by May 22, 2025.

AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period. They said this year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

Kayla MorganWriter

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.