Due to the severe weather in lower Northern Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge is closed until further notice.
The bridge is expected to be closed until at least Thursday, 7:00 a.m.
There’s been large chunks of ice faling from the bridge towers since the ice storms earlier this week, prompting officials to close the bridge due to safety concerns. A State of Energency is in effect in the Straits of Mackinac, as well as several northern lower Michigan counties.
The bridge closure earlier this week caused severe shortages of gasoline in Sault Ste. Marie, which gets its fuel delivered from the Lower Peninsula. Congressman Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) has proposed building a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for vehicle traffic, citing emergency situations like this one. Bergman on Wednesday urged President Trump to visit northern Michigan to see the damage.
Bergman issued a formal request to President Donald J. Trump, urging him to visit the communities across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula that were severely impacted by last weekend and this week’s devastating ice storms.
In a letter sent to President Trump, Rep. Bergman emphasized the widespread destruction caused by the storms, which left thousands of residents without power and caused significant damage to critical infrastructure throughout the region.
Read Rep. Bergman’s full letter to President Trump below:
April 2, 2025
Dear President Trump,
I hope this letter finds you well. I write to respectfully request your consideration in visiting the communities impacted by the recent ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula earlier this week.
As the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s First Congressional District, I have been in close communication with emergency coordinators and responders across every county as they address the widespread impacts this storm has had on our communities. Thousands of residents have been left without power, infrastructure has been severely damaged, and the livelihoods of countless families and small businesses have been disrupted. The effects of the storm have been particularly devastating in our rural and remote communities, where recovery efforts face additional logistical challenges.
Your presence would not only bring national attention to the hardships my constituents are enduring but would also provide much-needed encouragement to the first responders, utility workers, and volunteers who are working tirelessly to restore essential services. Northern Michiganders and Yoopers are among the strongest and most resilient in the country, but a visit from you would be a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this recovery.
I would be honored to accompany you on a tour of the affected areas and facilitate meetings with local officials, emergency personnel, and families impacted by the storm. I am confident that your leadership and concern for Michigan’s First District will be deeply appreciated by those working to rebuild and recover.
Thank you for your time and your continued commitment to the well-being of all Americans. I look forward to the opportunity to welcome you to Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
Sincerely,
Jack Bergman
Member of Congress
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