62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
(OP)
First vehicles crossed the 'Mighty Mac' 62 years ago
https://www.wnem.com/news/first-vehicles-crossed-t...
I can remember when it was being built. My mother and I had birthdays in the same week in August. We lived in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, and sometime during that week, we would always take a long day-trip up to places like Sault Ste. Marie or Tahquamenon Falls. We had to leave early in the morning because we had to take a ferry to cross the Straits of Mackinaw. And of course we had to make sure that we got back in time, before the last ferry returned back to Mackinaw City. Over the years we watched the progress as the bridge was being constructed, and then one year, we didn't have to take the ferry as the bridge was finally open. I can't remember how much the ferry cost, but I know my dad complained about the toll, which was something like $6.50 when the bridge first opened. I guess he figured that whatever he paid for the ferry, the ride was part of the adventure, but driving across a bridge, that was just a highway which his tax dollars was supposed to have paid for. Today, the toll is $4.00 for a passenger automobile. Note that I've driven a motorcycle over the Mackinaw Bridge on four occasions, that last time was in April, 1967, and I nearly froze to death, literally (when you hear that someone 'suffered from exposure', don't think that that's some minor thing. It's NOT, and it's something I hope I never experience again).
One other recollection. I mentioned that we used to go up to Sault Ste. Marie which is where the Soo Locks are, which allows ships to pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The Saute St. Marie River also forms the border between Michigan and Canada. I can remember the first time we visited there on one of these birthday trips. It must have been around 1956 when I was nine years old. It was during the 'Cold War' and it was the first time that I saw armed guards with machine guns. At that time the locks were considered a critical part of nations infrastructure and as such was under protection by the military. You could only get as close as the street as there was an iron fence around the locks area and there were guard towers with the aforementioned soldiers with machine guns. And there were guards patrolling the sidewalk along the fence and if they caught someone with a camera, they would take it and rip out the film (they gave the camera back, just with no film). The next year we were there, the guards were gone and while the fence was still there, the gates were open and you could walk right up to where the ships were moving through the locks, and you could take all the pictures that you wanted.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
https://www.wnem.com/news/first-vehicles-crossed-t...
I can remember when it was being built. My mother and I had birthdays in the same week in August. We lived in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, and sometime during that week, we would always take a long day-trip up to places like Sault Ste. Marie or Tahquamenon Falls. We had to leave early in the morning because we had to take a ferry to cross the Straits of Mackinaw. And of course we had to make sure that we got back in time, before the last ferry returned back to Mackinaw City. Over the years we watched the progress as the bridge was being constructed, and then one year, we didn't have to take the ferry as the bridge was finally open. I can't remember how much the ferry cost, but I know my dad complained about the toll, which was something like $6.50 when the bridge first opened. I guess he figured that whatever he paid for the ferry, the ride was part of the adventure, but driving across a bridge, that was just a highway which his tax dollars was supposed to have paid for. Today, the toll is $4.00 for a passenger automobile. Note that I've driven a motorcycle over the Mackinaw Bridge on four occasions, that last time was in April, 1967, and I nearly froze to death, literally (when you hear that someone 'suffered from exposure', don't think that that's some minor thing. It's NOT, and it's something I hope I never experience again).
One other recollection. I mentioned that we used to go up to Sault Ste. Marie which is where the Soo Locks are, which allows ships to pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The Saute St. Marie River also forms the border between Michigan and Canada. I can remember the first time we visited there on one of these birthday trips. It must have been around 1956 when I was nine years old. It was during the 'Cold War' and it was the first time that I saw armed guards with machine guns. At that time the locks were considered a critical part of nations infrastructure and as such was under protection by the military. You could only get as close as the street as there was an iron fence around the locks area and there were guard towers with the aforementioned soldiers with machine guns. And there were guards patrolling the sidewalk along the fence and if they caught someone with a camera, they would take it and rip out the film (they gave the camera back, just with no film). The next year we were there, the guards were gone and while the fence was still there, the gates were open and you could walk right up to where the ships were moving through the locks, and you could take all the pictures that you wanted.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
One Labor Day I hope to participate in the walk across that's held every year to really take in all of the details and craftsmanship that you don't get to see when you drive across it.
On a similar note, I just completed my first Detroit Free Press half marathon that goes across the Ambassador Bridge to Canada. Stopped on the bridge for a couple of selfies and really enjoyed seeing that bridge up close. Not sure it was worth having to run 13.1 miles to see it, but still enjoyable.
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
Drove over in July. Much more intimidating than Golden Gate. Only 2 lanes and much higher, more wind and enough distance from shore to make one feel truly detached from land.
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RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
August 2017 (Sony a6000)
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
I suffer from a bit of acrophobia (when riding in glass elevators I always face the door). While it's true that, as I mentioned in the first post in this thread, I've driven across the 'Big Mac' on a motorcycle four times, I drove very carefully and never looked down. Note that I have no problem flying, it's just that I can't stand where there's little or nothing between me and the 'edge' of whatever I'm standing near, or it looks like there's nothing there, like in those glass elevators. I know it's irrational, but the fear is there, nagging me until I turn and walk away to a 'safer' distance.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
(I'm a lousy social media participant ; )
I was following this thread earlier... had some additional photos to share and could not find them until now.
I'd be in the same category as John with his respect for heights.
Looking at these guys in real time is/was dizzy enough for me.
During the annual bridge walk the entire bridge is now closed instead of keeping two vehicle lanes open as in the past.
Photo taken during the 2016 Bridge Walk.
Perhaps the most striking element of the bridge for me, is its location.
Most massive bridges the size of the Mackinac Bridge are surrounded by dense population centers like New York or San Francisco.
The Mighty Mac is pretty much, out there... in the country side.
Those making a first time visit to the bridge traveling up I-75 are treated to a "Rocky Mountain" moment
after seeing nothing but Michigan's greenery, forests and rolling landscapes along the way.
There's a spot on the freeway where one rounds a hill and curve still miles away from the massive structure... and "...there it is".
Wow.... that thing is big. And we're not even there yet!
It remains in immaculate shape with hardly any rust among the layers of Sherwin-Williams paint drips.
Come on up and enjoy it sometime if you can.
John
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
October 2018 (Sony a6000)
And yes, you're seeing the entire length of the bridge, from one set of striped signs to the other. Note that just around that bend is a bar, so they actually walk the entire length of the bridge TWICE, once in each direction, and all on the same day.
And for the record, NO, I've never done this walk either
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/repainting-proj...
John
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
This is a picture of the Portugal in years 65 when I was 15, One can see the brídege over river Tagus which is twin of Golden Gate in S. Francisco and was built built by the same American company. Today Portugal besides, the same symbols is much more different.
luis
RE: 62 years ago, the Mighty Mac opened to traffic...
They were on the bridge the day that two MI NatGaurd fighters flew under the yet-to-be-finished bridge deck.
The next day they were on a crew that was was hanging cables from the deck. Supposedly to improve stability.
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P.E. Metallurgy