The Mackinac Bridge: Michigan's Iconic Suspension Span

The Mackinac Bridge ("Mighty Mac") is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Opened on November 1, 1957, after three years of construction, it stretches 26,372 feet (8,038 meters) total, with a main span of 3,800 feet (1,158 meters)—the longest in the Western Hemisphere and fifth-longest worldwide. Two 552-foot (168-meter) towers support the deck, which carries four lanes of I-75 traffic, averaging 4 million vehicles annually. The bridge deck sits 206 feet (63 meters) above the water at midspan, allowing large freighters to pass beneath. Its distinctive ivory towers and green deck are illuminated by 1,200 sodium lamps. Named from the Ojibwe "Michilimackinac" (great turtle), it is operated by the Mackinac Bridge Authority and funded by tolls. The bridge is an engineering landmark and a symbol of Michigan's unity.