While the Upper Peninsula has much to offer, part of the fun is just getting here. Visitors coming from lower Michigan have the opportunity to begin their time in the U.P. by driving over the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, on the nearly 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge, currently the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world. Taking four years and costing over $70 million dollars (over 700 million in today’s money) to build, the bridge connected lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula by car for the first time.
Prior to its opening in 1957, travelers between Mackinaw City and St Ignace had to take a state highway department operated car ferry. The fleet even included an ice breaker for winter trips. In addition to the wait for the ferry to arrive, the trip took 45 minutes to an hour, which is something to remember next time you find yourself waiting in traffic at the toll booth! Vacationers and locals who want to get an idea of that trip can still take a passenger ferry from either city out to Mackinac Island or a short cruise on a passenger ferry, some of which go right under the bridge for up close viewing from a different angle.
Another way to get a different view of the bridge is to be one of the tens of thousands of walkers to cross the bridge each Labor Day for the Mackinac Bridge Walk. Led by the governor, it is the only day each year that pedestrians are allowed on the bridge, so if you don’t want to miss the opportunity be sure to check out www. mackinacbridge.org/events/ walk/ for details on this year’s walk.
A suspension bridge uses cables to support the weight of the road from above. These cables are anchored in large concrete pillars on either side of towers rising above the water – in the case of Mackinaw Bridge over 500 feet above. The suspension portion of the bridge is just over 1.6 miles, making it the longest span between anchorages of any bridge in the western hemisphere. With the deck 200 feet above the water, even the largest of the Great Lakes ships can pass underneath, alongside a variety of smaller recreational and commercial vessels.
In 2023 monthly crossings ranged from just over 200,000 in the winter months to over 600,000 in July and August. Currently only $4 a trip for passenger vehicles it is affordable to make a quick trip south to Mackinaw City to browse stores or grab a bite in Mackinaw Crossings, step back in time at a historical site, or step aboard a decommissioned Great Lakes icebreaker. If you are traveling north to St. Ignace you can learn more about the bridge at Bridge View Park, try your luck at Kewadin Casinos, or learn about the local indigenous culture. While many Yoopers use the bridge to get somewhere south, on your next trip consider adding a little time to stop and explore the towns on either end, and to appreciate the amazing structure that connects the two parts of our state.
Do you remember the crossing before the bridge? We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures. You can share by email at munisingbeacon@gmail. com for possible inclusion in a future issue.
