SKANDIA — The Michigan Department of Transportation Wednesday morning reopened the US-41 bridge over the Chocolay River near Skandia in Marquette County.

MDOT spokesman Dan Weingarten says the bridge has been inspected and has met all conditions for reopening to traffic. The bridge had been closed since early Tuesday morning after water from the flooded river overtopped the roadway.

After 3 to 4 inches of rain overnight Monday, the US-41 bridge over the Chocolay River between Heidtman Road and Yalmer Road near Skandia was underwater early Tuesday morning. While floodwaters have receded during the day, MDOT kept the road closed pending a bridge inspection.

“MDOT’s goal is to reopen the bridge and restore mobility as soon as possible,” said MDOT Ishpeming Transportation Service Center Manager Aaron Johnson. “Our primary concern is safety, and MDOT won’t reopen the bridge until we are confident that it’s safe for traffic.”

The closure on M-94 about 2 miles west of U.S. 41 will more long term. Johnson said it could be a matter of weeks or even months rather than a few days.

A four-culvert system that carried the east branch of the Chocolay River under the roadway washed way in yesterday’s flooding. The gap is estimated to be about 90 feet wide and 35 feet deep.