Blue Star Bridge fully open

The new striping for the Blue Star Highway bridge, view from Douglas.

Bike lane markings.

It’s been seven months of two-lane traffic and red lights, but the Blue Star Highway bridge over the Kalamazoo River between Saugatuck and Douglas is fully open.

Work crews were picking up barrels earlier this week after the restriping was complete.

The bridge, once marked for four lanes, is now three lanes — one northbound lane, one southbound lane and a center turn lane — with a marked bike lane that goes from Lake Street in Saugatuck through Douglas.

New lights line the span that has been repainted.

Main Street, which has been closed since fall, is also open again.

A $3.3 million grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation Local Bridge Program has paid for part of the project’s total estimated cost of $4 million. Saugatuck and Douglas split the remainder, paying $324,000 each.

Note the new paint and new lights on the Blue Star Highway bridge.