Authorities closed the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge in Michigan on Sunday due to a bomb threat. The incident has triggered a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) response, and the U.S. Coast Guard is also reportedly on scene.
The official Mackinac Bridge account tweeted, “Law enforcement notified the MBA of a bomb threat on the bridge; MBA closed the bridge at 2:15 p.m. After an extensive search, nothing has been found. They are completing one more sweep and hope to re-open the bridge soon. MSP and Mackinaw City police are investigating.”
The bridge closure began shortly before 2:30 p.m. eastern time on Sunday.
One Twitter user tweeted, “Mackinac Bridge is closed to all traffic due to an ongoing bomb threat. U.S. Coast Guard has established a perimeter around the bridge to protect mariners. Local bomb squad and K-9 on scene. Bridge has been closed for roughly 2 hours now due to the incident.
9 & 10 News also reported U.S. Coast Guard personnel were present near the bridge and were halting traffic traveling under the bridge.
“Department of Homeland Security is on scene assisting local police,” the Twitter user added. “Police have completed one extensive search and have found nothing, they will be completing one more search and hope to re-open the bridge soon, says Jeff Cranson, spokesman for Dept of Transportation. (ht @DaveAkerlyOnAir)”
At around 5:10 p.m., after a nearly three-hour-long shutdown, authorities gave the all-clear to reopen the bridge.
The Mackinac Bridge Twitter account tweeted, “All clear on the #MackinacBridge. Please drive with care. Have a safe and pleasant trip!”
Traffic could be seen again on the bridge after 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, from a live camera feed shared by the West Michigan Tourist Association.
