JULY 2 UPDATE: A representative with the Michigan Department of Transportation announced that the Bicentennial Bridge will remain closed to traffic, for all vehicles, until at least July 8.

Traffic will remain open to boats. 

UPDATE: A representative with the Michigan Department of Transportation announced crews replaced the faulty cylinder on the bridge Tuesday, but now the bridge is stuck in the up position.

MDOT officials say while crews are working to identify what's wrong, they have closed the bridge to westbound traffic.

Officials say they're working to make the bridge operational as quickly as possible, but if they can't get the bridge deck to re-seat, they'll need to open it all the way, making it passable to marine traffic.

The bridge would then be closed to all road traffic.

The bridge was previously stuck in the up position in June 2024, as seen in the above video.

ORIGINAL: ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- St. Joe Harbor Harbormaster Mike Moran is reporting the Bicentennial Bridge suffered a mechanical failure late last month that left it unable to be raised. 

Motor vehicles crossing the bridge will not be impacted, but large power boats and almost all sailboats cannot currently fit under it.

"They are doing repairs right now—and hope to have them complete by tonight—-but there is a chance it could impact the 4th of July holiday weekend," and MDOT officials said.

The bridge has eight hydraulic cylinders in total, four of which were just replaced last winter. The other four were scheduled to be replaced this coming winter, but one of those four has broken. 

Fireworks closures of the bridges and channel will be coming on July 3.