Portage Lake Lift Bridge, Vertical lift bridge in Hancock, United States
The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Hancock and Houghton across Portage Lake with a double-deck structure spanning 1700 feet.
Constructed in 1959 at a cost of 11 million dollars, this bridge replaced an older swing bridge that had served the community since 1895.
The communities of Hancock and Houghton celebrate Bridgefest each year to mark the connection between their cities through this engineering structure.
The bridge carries over 20,000 vehicles daily on US Highway 41 and M-26, providing the only land connection between the north and south Keweenaw Peninsula.
The structure stands as the heaviest and widest double-decked vertical lift bridge in existence, incorporating 35,000 tons of concrete and 7,000 tons of steel.
Location: Michigan
Official opening: 1959
GPS coordinates: 47.12380,-88.57470
Latest update: November 28, 2025 14:29
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