Blue Water Bridge resurfacing project begins in April

About 14,600 vehicles cross the Blue Water Bridge each day.

And for three months the number of lanes crossing the international border will be cut in half.

Resurfacing of the westbound span will start in April and be completed by July 1, according to a statement from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The original span of the bridge, built in 1937, will be closed during the work, with all traffic diverted to the eastbound bridge.

Last year, about 5.3 million vehicles crossed the bridge; of those, 2.6 million crossed the westbound span, said John Elliott, chief operating officer of Blue Water Bridge Canada.

The eastbound span between Port Huron and Sarnia will accommodate one lane of traffic in each direction. There will be two lanes available in each direction as vehicles approach the toll plazas.

There will be no lanes dedicated for NEXUS and F.A.S.T. motorists and buses.

Wide loads will be restricted to less than 11 feet, and bicyclists cannot be accommodated during the construction, according to the statement from MDOT.

MDOT and Blue Water Bridge Canada, co-owners of the Blue Water Bridge, are coordinating the work that includes resurfacing and waterproof undercoating of the bridge.

Elliott said the Canadian share of the project is estimated to cost about $3 million. MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross said the U.S. side is estimated at about $3.95 million.

The last time the span had serious work done was after the eastbound span was built in 1997, Elliott said.

"It was revitalized 15 years ago, so this is really a milestone of the ongoing care of the bridge," Elliott said.

Elliott said there will be wait times, but exactly how long has not been determined.

Motorists are being encouraged to travel at off-peak hours if possible, or travel south to use the international bridge or tunnel crossings in the Detroit/Windsor area.

"This important project continues the long-term commitment of MDOT and BWBC to maintain and preserve the safety and reliability of the Blue Water Bridge," MDOT Blue Water Bridge manager Mike Szuch said in a statement. "We will do our best to minimize and manage any short-term traffic delays for cross-border travelers."

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard.