Westbound span of Blue Water Bridge to close in July

Travelers may soon be experience more traffic on the Blue Water Bridge due to an upcoming maintenance project.

The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited will be working on the westbound span of the bridge starting July 5. This project will effectively close the westbound lanes of traffic from Canada into the United States. During the closure, both directions of traffic will be moved to the eastbound span of the bridge.

The maintenance work is expected to be completed by Oct. 23.

Blue Water Bridge Director Joe Dedecker said maintenance includes repaving the lanes, baring replacements and replacing an expansion joint. He said maintenance like this is done every year.

"In this particular case, it requires the closure to facilitate work," Dedecker said.

Dedecker said the last closure was in 2015.

Because the eastbound lane will be accommodating bi-directional traffic, dedicated lanes for commuter pass holders and buses will not be available. Additionally, wide loads will be restricted to less than 11 feet.

Dedecker said he does not expect there to be any major impacts to traffic.

The estimated cost of the project has not been released. In a press release put out by the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Blue Water Bridge was called an essential economic link between Canada and the U.S. It said the maintenance project continues the commitment between MDOT and the Federals Bridge Corporation Limited to maintain the safety and reliability of the Blue Water Bridge.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Westbound span of Blue Water Bridge to close in July