Mackinac Bridge

The Mackinac Bridge, known affectionately as “Big Mac” connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. Mackinaw City is at the south end in the Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace is at the north end in the Upper Peninsula. The view from the Bridge is spectacular!

Big Mac Under Construction

The Bridge was years in planning but took only three years to actually construct. It opened on November 1, 1957.

September 6, 2009 marked the 150-millionth crossing.

The Big Mac is a suspension-style bridge and is approximately five miles (26,372 feet) in length. It is the third-longest suspension bridge in the world. In 1998, two others surpassed it in length. The longest is in Japan and the second longest is in Denmark.

The two main towers rise 552 feet above water level and the center span is approximately 150 feet above the lake. The bridge is designed to withstand 120 mph winds. The highest recorded wind speed at the Straits of Mackinac is 78 mph. It is also designed and built with materials that expand and contract with the changing weather at the Straits.

Visit our store on CafePress for a great selection of "Mighty Mac" items.

Currently, the toll for crossing the Bridge in 2010 is $1.75 per axle and these funds are used to operate and maintain the Mackinac Bridge. Maintenance of the Bridge is an ongoing project. One such undertaking is the complete paint removal and reapplication of primer and surface paint. That was started in mid-April 2009 and will be finished in the 2013 season. Some other projects include replacing the deck grating on the suspended spans, upgrading the electrical components, and resurfacing the bridge deck.

The view of the Bridge from Mackinac Island is a beautiful and impressive sight both day and night.

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