Michigan Department of Transportation photo Above, a chunk of ice more than an inch thick that fell on the Mackinac Bridge recently is held by workers. The Mackinac Bridge was closed due to hazardous ice conditions Wednesday, marking the third closure in as many days. No timetable was given for when the bridge might reopen.

By Ilsa Minor

iminor@dailypress.net

ST. IGNACE — Due to falling ice from cables and towers, the Mackinac Bridge was closed indefinitely Wednesday while officials wait for safe conditions.

“There is no expected schedule for reopening. When conditions improve, the bridge will be reopened to traffic,” the Mackinac Bridge Authority said in a statement on bridge conditions published at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday’s closure, which was initially announced mid-morning, was the third closure of the bridge in three days following the accumulation of ice from freezing rain that hit the bridge late last week. Ice was several inches thick in some spots and the bridge was closed for falling ice from about 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 31 and from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. Wednesday’s closure began at 2:30 a.m.

“Unlike high wind closures where weather forecasts can give us solid information on when winds are expected to diminish, guessing when ice will fall and stop falling is just a guess,” said Mackinac Bridge Director Kim Nowack. “Factors like wind, sunshine and rising temperatures may give us hints that falling ice may be imminent, but no clear timing. For the safety of all involved, we need to keep our system simple: when ice is falling from the towers and cables, we close the bridge until it stops.”

According to a release from the Mackinaw Bridge Authority issued Wednesday, maintenance staff at the bridge said the amount of ice that formed as a result of last week’s storm was “unprecedented” and “the size of ice sheets, spears and chunks that are falling are dangerous to anyone out on the bridge deck.”

Ice falling from the bridge from flat surfaces may be as large as garage doors and spears and other chunks may fall hundreds of feet. In the past, some pieces that have survived the fall have been as large as a loaf of bread and have caved in windshields and roofs on both authority and private vehicles.

Nowack said the amount of remaining ice on the bridge means closures are likely to be lengthy and could start and stop at any time.

“Local emergency and relief services are strained, many local businesses are closed, and there are still power outages in the Straits area, so we discourage travelers from coming here expecting to cross the bridge. Please don’t travel here if it’s not absolutely necessary,” she said.

The closures have also resulted in fuel shortages in the Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. area, as trucks carrying regular fuel deliveries have been unable to cross the bridge. Some Sault-area gas stations ran out of fuel completely Tuesday.

“Michigan State Police (MSP) personnel are working closely with local authorities and fuel providers to expedite deliveries and restore normal fuel services as quickly as possible,” said MSP Eighth District Public Information Officer, Lt. Ben Eckola in a release. “We understand the inconvenience this situation may cause, but we want to assure residents that this is a short-term issue. Contingency plans are in place to ensure that law enforcement and other emergency services maintain normal operation.”

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as fuel supplies stabilize. Residents are encouraged to temporarily conserve fuel where possible and avoid unnecessary travel until the local fuel supplies are replenished.

To receive notice of the bridge’s reopening, motorists may text “MacBridge” to 67283.