GLEN ARBOR -- Stu Dana has a whole new breed of customers these days.
Melba Ann's near Glen Arbor was hidden from motorists after last year's closure of the Glen Lake Narrows Bridge on M-22, said Dana, owner of the restaurant that lies within walking distance of the bridge.
But the bridge reopened Saturday and with it came plenty of foot traffic inside Melba Ann's.
"We got hit hard," Dana said. "It was like opening up the flood gates. Normally our Saturdays are dismal, but not this past one."
When Dana wasn't serving hungry patrons, he navigated confused motorists through the bridge area.
The bridge closure had a dampening effect on Dana's restaurant over the summer. But now that it's open, Dana anticipates hiring additional wait staff next summer to compensate for the extra foot traffic.
Michigan Department of Transportation officials closed the bridge in December 2008 to implement a $3.4 million removal and replacement project, said Bob Felt, MDOT spokesman.
The new bridge features reconstructed approaches and handicap-accessible areas on each end of the bridge, Felt said.
Crews continue to work on the railing and pedestrian walkways, but Felt said the entire project should be complete within weeks.
"The bridge was aging, and the best way to restructure a bridge that's nearly 80 years old is to replace it," Felt said.
Gail Komendera won't shell out as much gas money because she no longer has to detour her way through town.
"We tacked on an extra 20 minutes sometimes," said Komendera, who lives next to the bridge.
Komendera said it's unusual to look out her window and see pedestrian traffic because while the bridge was being repaired, she saw only construction vehicles.
"Traffic's slowly starting to pick up every day," she said.
Bob and Susan Johnson, of Glen Arbor, took advantage of the bridge's extended shoulder area on their bikes Wednesday.
The couple said the bridge closure made it difficult for out-of-state guests to find their home this past Labor Day.
"We basically had to give them directions on how to get here because they got lost," Bob Johnson said.
