Tag: Aerial Lift Bridge

Picture of the Day for January 10, 2020

At 1013.5 feet, the reigning “Queen of the Lakes” is the Paul R. Tregurtha and she came through the Duluth canal and under the lift bridge for last time this shipping season. With the Soo Locks closing next week, many of the vessels are beginning their winter lay up in various ports around the Great Lakes. The Paul R. Tregurtha docked at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal this afternoon for the winter until the Soo locks reopens on March 25. A tugboat had to sweep ice away from the dock area for the freighter as it neared the dock.

Winter Layup Time

Winter Layup Time

Picture of the Day for December 3, 2019

The sun was melting some of the snow and ice but most of the tree limbs are still coated in a layer of ice. And the blizzard also coated Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge with ice and it remains in the down position due to the weight of the ice, even after some deicing operations today, as it is too much weight for the motors to lift.

Since the bridge is unable to rise the 135 feet to let vessels into the harbor, the ships have to use the Superior entry. That can add an extra hour or more to travel and it is a shallower channel requiring extra caution to navigate. So I am sure the boat captains will be happy when the bridge is re-opened as the shipping season is nearing its end and it is a race to get the cargo loads in and out before winter freeze up.

Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge

Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge

 

Picture of the Day for October 23, 2019

After Lake Superior experienced the storm on Monday, things have calmed and activities are getting back to normal. The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was closed for a while as the big waves caused flooding on several roads. The bridge can be lifted to its full height of 135 feet in about a minute. The bridge operator in the little building on the bridge better not be scared of heights.

Under the Lift Bridge

Under the Lift Bridge