Repairs are coming for the Dyckman Avenue bascule bridge in South Haven. The city council this week approved raising the HPU control cabinets to get them away from the high water in the Black River. The motors for the hydraulic system to operate the bridge are located in those cabinets, which are sealed and remained water-tight during a surge in the river in late November, but the Public Works Department says that can’t be relied upon for a long period of time. While the water has not risen to that level since then, there is concern it could happen again this summer or fall due to what is expected to be a record height for Lake Michigan. Strain Electric has been hired to make the repairs, including fabrication of two stainless steel brackets to raise the cabinets, reinstall pipes and wiring, and energizing and testing the system. Work is expected to start next week, and the city says raising the cabinets will lessen the chance of water reaching them again.
