Elizabeth UplegerJacalynsnana “Mackinac Bridge” June 6, 2006 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution

Third Longest Suspension Bridge

Costs $3 per car

“Timmy”- someone afraid to cross the bridge

Allows 6000 cars per hour.

Move with the wind, changes in temperature, and weight

Doesn’t sway or swing

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DecentXposure “Crossing Over “Septempter 4, 2009 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution

Longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere

5 miles long

54 feet wide

200 feet above water level

- Too much traffic on the ferries

- Began “ official” construction on May 7 & 8, 1954

- Opened to traffic Nov.1, 1957

Jan. 1953-selected as engineer

May 7th,1954-began Construction

November 1, 1957- open to traffic

September 25, 1958- 50 millionth crossing

June 25, 1998-100 millionth crossing

Speed Limit: 45 mph

No u-turns

No passing

Bridge personnel is always on duty

Begins in St. Ignace ends in Mackinaw City

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/spider-jack--36/

I'm Spider Jack of the Mighty Mac and my story starts generations back. My great, great, great, great, Grandpappy lived on land and he was pretty happy. He was hanging in his web, just waiting for some lunch when he heard a big boom, a bang, and a crunch! He crawled toward the racket to the top of the ridge, and saw, on the lake, they were building a bridge! He may have felt a kinship to his fellow engineers spanning a great distance as he had all his years, but as the story goes, he was never quite the same, he was drawn to the bridge like a moth to a flame! He hurried back home, hugged and kissed his wife, said "Let's pack our bags honey, and start a new life!" They were a hardy couple with staying power, fighting the wind all the way to the first tower. That was way back in 1957, and Jack proclaimed it their own piece of heaven! Now there's over 1000 in our little clan, we all have nests just about midspan. So the next time your crossing the Mighty Mac, be sure to give a wave to the family of Spider Jack!By Barb Merchand