UPDATE:

N. Fourth Avenue just north of Baldwin Street will be closed for some time as a piece of construction equipment hit a utility pole late Wednesday afternoon.

Big Rapids Department of Public Safety Sgt. Jeff Hauger says the pole supports high tension power lines that can energize the ground if they make contact with it.

“The construction crew hit it and broke the pole and it's just barely hanging on.”

He says windy conditions make the situation even more dangerous and it will be some time before the road is reopened because another crew has to be brought on scene, assess the damage, and then begin repairs.

“We basically want people to avoid the area as much as possible,” he says.

Hauger notes no one was injured in the mishap and authorities want to keep it that way.