No lift bridge crossing this winter??
- Thread starter slimcake
- Start date
slickwilly08
New member
I do not have any info either way, but that has to be false...
snolover55
Member
Read that again. He's referring to police escorts across the bridge for atv traffic. Been discussed in another thread on here.
purproadking
New member
im not sure, but i believe that that was for the excorts for atv's, i hope they are not stopping sled traffic also!
This is for ATV'S ONLY. Sleds will still be able to use the bridge in the winter.
The bridge has two levels that can be used to cross. Because the bridge is in the "up" position, with the lower deck raised to street level all summer to allow for the passage of boats during the boating season and the upper deck above all traffic, ATV's needed to cross using the same platform that vehicular traffic uses. Thus a police escort was needed for ATV's to cross the bridge along with the regular street traffic. Because of legal liabilities, the Police can no longer provide the escorts. Thus ATV's can no longer cross the bridge.
In the winter, the bridge is lowered and the street traffic uses the upper portion, while sleds use the lower portion. So all will be the same and fine for snowmobiles.
So the bottom line is: THE BRIDGE WILL BE OPEN FOR SNOWMOBILES TO CROSS AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE.
-John
The bridge has two levels that can be used to cross. Because the bridge is in the "up" position, with the lower deck raised to street level all summer to allow for the passage of boats during the boating season and the upper deck above all traffic, ATV's needed to cross using the same platform that vehicular traffic uses. Thus a police escort was needed for ATV's to cross the bridge along with the regular street traffic. Because of legal liabilities, the Police can no longer provide the escorts. Thus ATV's can no longer cross the bridge.
In the winter, the bridge is lowered and the street traffic uses the upper portion, while sleds use the lower portion. So all will be the same and fine for snowmobiles.
So the bottom line is: THE BRIDGE WILL BE OPEN FOR SNOWMOBILES TO CROSS AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE.
-John
mrsrunningbear
Active member
The police will be escorting ATV's again. They started last week. I was at the meeting in Houghton last week with Houghton and Hancock police and the sheriff. They grandfathered an ordinance so they can escort again. There will be press releases soon and new signs at the bridge soon. They will be doing escorts 3 times a day 9:15am 1:15pm and 6:15pm you must call them (906-482-2121 houghton 906-482-3102 hancock) and tell them which time you will be there. Also if they are busy they are setting up towing services that will load the ATV's up and haul them across for around $5 - $10 each unit. It is a good solution for now.
rocketman356
New member
I don't know why they don't let yaa plate ATV's .They allow that in South Dakota.
ORV Escort over Portage Lift Bridge
Last week, Mi-TRALE, and the Keweenaw ATV Club met with City of Houghton, City of Hancock, Houghton County Sheriff's Department, and the Michigan Department of Transportation in an effort to find a way to provide an Off Road Vehicle connecting route from Houghton to Hancock. It was at the meeting that an agreement had been reached for the Hancock and Houghton City Police Departments to provide an escort of ORV's over the Portage Lift Bridge.
The escorts will be based upon availability and ORV riders contacting the Police Departments in advance. This courtesy will take place, providing the Police Departments do not have an emergency to respond too, at three specific times each day. Those times will be at 9:15 am, 1:15 pm, and 6:15 pm, Eastern Time.
"We know the importance of ORV's for Tourism, and that's why we have worked with the City of Houghton Police and MDOT in coming up with this service, providing we are available," commented Hancock City Police Chief, Michael Beaudoin.
Houghton and Hancock City Council's will immediately begin working on a City Ordinance to provide this service. A service that will fall under the State of Michigan's 'event' permit. However this service will begin immediately to provide the ORV riders with the chance to see the Fall Color season that is either peaking or close to peaking right now.
"This is one of the most popular times of the year for ORV Riders to be in the Western UP, and that is why this service is so important," stated Mi-TRALE President, Skip Schulz.
While the ordinance under the State of Michigan's 'event' clause, offers Houghton and Hancock to provide this service as a courtesy, Mi-TRALE continues to work closely with State Representative Matt Huuki and State Senator Tom Casperson in changing Michigan State Law. The new law that is currently in both the Michigan State House and State Senate Committee's deals with ORV's having the right to develop and maintain a trail along State and Federal Highway Right of Ways, travel over the side of State and Federal Bridges, and where needed, the use of the 'shoulder' of State and Federal Highways. This law is very specific as to what conditions have to be met for ORV's to have a trail or use of the side of a bridge.
Yesterday, Schulz and Tony Harry of Trailrider Enthusiast Alliance of Marquette (TEAM) spoke before the Michigan State Senate Transportation Committee on behalf of the Upper Peninsula on the proposed new ORV Legislation. Schulz and Harry spoke via Video-Conference from Finlandia, while other speakers spoke directly to the committee at the State Capital. Everyone that spoke before the committee were in favor of the legislation or 'neutral.'
"We have been working on this legislation for close to two years. We're now seeing the 'light at the end of the tunnel," stated Schulz.
Other provisions in the new ORV Legislation call for elimination of a current DNR Administrative Rule dealing with the number of ORV and Snowmobilers that ride as a group on Michigan DNR Designated ORV and Snowmobile Trails, establishing a weekend every year where ORV Riders in Michigan do not need an ORV Trail Sticker, working with bordering states on a reciprocal Trail Sticker program, and liability reform for volunteers who work on ORV Trails.
"I really want to thank the Hancock and Houghton Police Departments, Houghton County Sheriff's Department, Michigan Department of Transportation, and our friends in the Keweenaw ATV Club for all the cooperation on providing ORV's the escort over the Portage Lift Bridge, and their support on the ORV Legislation," stated Schulz.
Mi-TRALE, Keweenaw ATV Club, and the Police Departments are also working with different business's to provide a trailer to haul ORV's over the bridge at an affordable rate, in case the Police Departments do not have the manpower to provide the escort during the specific times each day.
Schulz concluded by stating that Mi-TRALE will be providing an ORV Ride for Casperson and other legislators this Saturday. This Thursday, Mi-TRALE will be holding their 5th Senior Citizen ORV Fall Color Tour.
Last week, Mi-TRALE, and the Keweenaw ATV Club met with City of Houghton, City of Hancock, Houghton County Sheriff's Department, and the Michigan Department of Transportation in an effort to find a way to provide an Off Road Vehicle connecting route from Houghton to Hancock. It was at the meeting that an agreement had been reached for the Hancock and Houghton City Police Departments to provide an escort of ORV's over the Portage Lift Bridge.
The escorts will be based upon availability and ORV riders contacting the Police Departments in advance. This courtesy will take place, providing the Police Departments do not have an emergency to respond too, at three specific times each day. Those times will be at 9:15 am, 1:15 pm, and 6:15 pm, Eastern Time.
"We know the importance of ORV's for Tourism, and that's why we have worked with the City of Houghton Police and MDOT in coming up with this service, providing we are available," commented Hancock City Police Chief, Michael Beaudoin.
Houghton and Hancock City Council's will immediately begin working on a City Ordinance to provide this service. A service that will fall under the State of Michigan's 'event' permit. However this service will begin immediately to provide the ORV riders with the chance to see the Fall Color season that is either peaking or close to peaking right now.
"This is one of the most popular times of the year for ORV Riders to be in the Western UP, and that is why this service is so important," stated Mi-TRALE President, Skip Schulz.
While the ordinance under the State of Michigan's 'event' clause, offers Houghton and Hancock to provide this service as a courtesy, Mi-TRALE continues to work closely with State Representative Matt Huuki and State Senator Tom Casperson in changing Michigan State Law. The new law that is currently in both the Michigan State House and State Senate Committee's deals with ORV's having the right to develop and maintain a trail along State and Federal Highway Right of Ways, travel over the side of State and Federal Bridges, and where needed, the use of the 'shoulder' of State and Federal Highways. This law is very specific as to what conditions have to be met for ORV's to have a trail or use of the side of a bridge.
Yesterday, Schulz and Tony Harry of Trailrider Enthusiast Alliance of Marquette (TEAM) spoke before the Michigan State Senate Transportation Committee on behalf of the Upper Peninsula on the proposed new ORV Legislation. Schulz and Harry spoke via Video-Conference from Finlandia, while other speakers spoke directly to the committee at the State Capital. Everyone that spoke before the committee were in favor of the legislation or 'neutral.'
"We have been working on this legislation for close to two years. We're now seeing the 'light at the end of the tunnel," stated Schulz.
Other provisions in the new ORV Legislation call for elimination of a current DNR Administrative Rule dealing with the number of ORV and Snowmobilers that ride as a group on Michigan DNR Designated ORV and Snowmobile Trails, establishing a weekend every year where ORV Riders in Michigan do not need an ORV Trail Sticker, working with bordering states on a reciprocal Trail Sticker program, and liability reform for volunteers who work on ORV Trails.
"I really want to thank the Hancock and Houghton Police Departments, Houghton County Sheriff's Department, Michigan Department of Transportation, and our friends in the Keweenaw ATV Club for all the cooperation on providing ORV's the escort over the Portage Lift Bridge, and their support on the ORV Legislation," stated Schulz.
Mi-TRALE, Keweenaw ATV Club, and the Police Departments are also working with different business's to provide a trailer to haul ORV's over the bridge at an affordable rate, in case the Police Departments do not have the manpower to provide the escort during the specific times each day.
Schulz concluded by stating that Mi-TRALE will be providing an ORV Ride for Casperson and other legislators this Saturday. This Thursday, Mi-TRALE will be holding their 5th Senior Citizen ORV Fall Color Tour.