The Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas, replacing the need for car ferries. Construction began in 1954 and took three and a half years to complete. The bridge was built to withstand extreme weather conditions and has become a tourist destination, with an annual “Mackinac Bridge Walk” event.
The Mackinac Bridge is a bridge that connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. The city of St. Ignatius is on the north end of the bridge, on the Upper Peninsula, while the city of Mackinac is on the south side of the bridge, on the lower peninsula. Before the Mackinac Bridge was built, the only way to cross from one of Michigan’s peninsulas to the other was by boat. Interstate 75, which runs from Florida to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, crosses the bridge to reach the Upper Peninsula. The total length of the bridge, including the approach to the shore, is nearly 5 miles (just over 8 kilometers).
The areas surrounding the Mackinac Bridge and the route connecting the upper and lower peninsulas became very important to commerce and tourism in the 19th and 20th centuries. Before the bridge was built, car ferries sometimes carried thousands of cars across the Strait of Mackinac each day. However, this was insufficient to meet the traffic demands and there were often long traffic backups. By the 19th, people started discussing the idea of building a bridge.
Despite the perceived need for a bridge, disagreements and financial problems significantly delayed the start of construction. Actual construction on the Mackinac Bridge did not begin until 1954. Work was not done on the Mackinac Bridge during the harsh Michigan winters, and construction took approximately three and a half years. In November 1957, the bridge was opened to traffic and the ferry service was stopped. Approximately $100 million US dollars was spent on the construction of the bridge, and five workers died in the process.
The Mackinac Bridge was, out of necessity, built to withstand relatively extreme conditions. High winds are common across the Mackinac Strait, so the bridge is capable of swinging a great distance in either direction before losing any structural integrity. It was also built to withstand temperature changes. Michigan’s winters regularly dip well below freezing while summer temperatures commonly reach and exceed 85°F (about 30°C).
Although the Mackinac Bridge was built for practical purposes, it has become a tourist destination in and of itself, as it is one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. Each year, an event known as the “Mackinac Bridge Walk” occurs in which people, led by the governor of Michigan, cross the bridge. The bridge is not open for walking or cycling during the rest of the year, although people can pay to be crossed and their bikes.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
