Portage Lake Lift Bridge

The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects Hancock and Houghton across Portage Lake as a two-level roadway that can raise its center span to allow boats to pass through. The lifting mechanism handles regular traffic while accommodating water traffic when needed.

An earlier swing bridge served this crossing beginning in 1895, and was replaced in 1959 by the current lift bridge. The new design provided more reliable operation as traffic demands increased over the decades.

The communities of Hancock and Houghton celebrate Bridgefest each year to mark the connection between their cities through this engineering structure.

The bridge carries traffic on US Highway 41 and M-26 as the only land route connecting the north and south Keweenaw Peninsula. Visitors can walk or bike across to experience the structure and enjoy views of the lake and surrounding landscape.

The lift mechanism raises the roadway about 100 feet (30 m) to allow tall-masted boats to pass through. Trains also run on the lower deck, making this one of the few lift bridges in the world carrying both road and rail traffic simultaneously.

Location: Michigan

Official opening: 1959

GPS coordinates: 47.12380,-88.57470

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:48