MDOT photo Construction equipment blocks a portion of US 2 and 41 that was damaged by high water. The highway was closed Friday until repairs can be made.

ESCANABA — High water damaged a portion of US 2 and 41 west of Escanaba to the extent that the highway had to be closed Friday.

The damage occurred at a crossing over Portage Creek just west of Escanaba. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) the pavement damage was the result of high water. The area has received extensive rainfall over the past several days.

One motorist who observed the damage described it as a portion of the pavement on the crossing literally sinking away.

Friday morning, Escanaba Public Safety officers had the highway blocked off at North 30th Street and were detouring traffic. The highway was blocked from North 30th Street to K.5 Road.

According to MDOT officials, both the eastbound and westbound lanes of US-2 at Portage Creek were forced to be closed and asked motorists to follow detours. A temporary detour using the by-pass truck route (starting in Hyde) was set up late Friday morning.

“High water in the creek after recent rains has damaged the east approach to the bridge and undermined pavement. The road will remain closed until emergency repairs can be made,” MDOT officials said.

MDOT officials were unsure how long repairs would take.

Problems at the crossing apparently began to develop Wednesday. At 11 p.m. Wednesday, MDOT sent an email message saying traffic was being routed into alternating lanes at the site due to emergency road repairs. It reopened at 4:43 p.m. Thursday.

At 6:39 a.m. Friday morning, the roadway was closed again.

Updates on the situation are being issued through MDOT and the Delta County Sheriff’s Office. They advised motorists to drive safely and give themselves extra time for travel.