Portland Preparing to Replace Divine Highway Bridge

The Portland City Council approved an $8,800 feasibility study for the eventual replacement of the Divine Highway Bridge that crosses the Looking Glass River in the City of Portland. While no funds have yet been approved from the MDOT Local Bridge Program, it is only a matter of time before the bridge must be replaced. The City is being pro-active in planning for replacement so that once funding is obtained construction can begin as expeditiously as possible.

There are no nearby or easily accessible alternate routes over the Looking Glass River in lieu of the Divine Highway Bridge. Therefore, in order to minimize long detours and to maximize public safety, it is probable that a new bridge will be built next to the current bridge. The City recently obtained rights to adjacent property next to the current bridge in anticipation of this project. Traffic during construction of a new bridge will likely be reduced to one-lane over the current bridge.

Once the feasibility study is completed by Fleis and VandenBrink Engineering of Grand Rapids, and funding is eventually obtained to build the new bridge, it will take approximately three years for the project to be completed.