Posted on 03/17/2018 9:03:39 PM PDT by Voption
Driving north on Interstate 75 across the Mackinac Bridge into Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtu.be ...
I just love this song. Always have.
“We have a huge Bridge!”
Not only is it huge, roughly the size of the Golden Gate and Verrazano, but it is still the ONLY bridge of its class hundreds of miles from even a medium sized city.
In a little over 2 weeks, the next FReepathon will begin.
We need to finish this one first.
Come on FReepers, let’s do this!!!
Not sure that’s the music I’d want to hear while crossing that bridge.
Also, I’d be worried about being rammed by the Cat Stevens.
Should have known the song was gonna be that.
That ore boat had a loose keel. It was supposed to be either sent to be dismantled and redone or scraped after that run.
They would drive steel plate under the ribbing to tighten up the keel and weld them in.
Should not have been on the lakes at that time.
Us old timers referred to those ships as Boats and not ships at that time. On the lakes they were called boats and anything in from the ocean going vessels were called ships. Why? Because the keels are different, the lakes vessels have a flatter or more rounded bottom and a wide beam and rounded bow. Matter of fact, some of the older ore vessels now have had the back cut out and fitted so they can push them with tugs. Back in the day, they would even tow them.
Been over that bridge many a time.
Thanks for that factoid! Yes, you are absolutely correct.
I’m on the SW Michigan shoreline, and when you start heading up to northern (lower) Michigan, the population density gets pretty sparse, really fast. (I-75 will eventually take you into Canada, over a very long bridge as well.)
nicely done local documentary:
“Building the Mighty Mac”
https://youtu.be/C07hGxEij3M
55:03
Traffic stats for the Bridge. (it’s about 10K-15K crossings/day, depending on season. $4 for cars.)
http://www.mackinacbridge.org/fares-traffic/monthly-traffic-statistics/
IIRC—total cost was roughly $50 million and the architect did the initial plans on-spec.
yeah.... well, you know. We don’t have a lot of tunes with a Michigan-theme from which to pick. (although I did have a Gal in Kalmazoo-zoo-zoo-zoo & I married her.)
Incidentally, a Yugo was blown off the Bridge some years ago.
(the Bridge itself is over designed and will tolerate in excess of 120 mph, but if you drive a Yugo, stay in the center-lane.)
You’re welcome. A couple of other things:
1) The bridge was privately funded (something I normally can’t stand, but since this is history, it’s water under the bridge). The state of Michigan, knew the obvious, which was that there was no way the bridge could ever pay for itself - so they forced it to be financed privately.
2) After the bridge opened and the toll money started rolling in much faster than expected, the state took it over. It was quickly paid off. (in fact, the tolls were quite high at the outset, and then they were dropped as the debt was retired)
3) I also don’t think there’s any bridge of its class built in such a furious climate...it’s not easy to build a bridge when you have 4 months a year of decent weather.
I was born and raised in Michigan and my parents were born in the northern Lower Peninsula.
I was stationed in North Dakota for too many years and I would take my two weeks of leave and drag my family to my parents place near the Manistee National forest. While driving on US Highway 2 when I saw the bridge towers I would know I was only a couple hours from home.
I loved driving over the bridge.
“I’ve got a Gal in Kalamazoo”
-The full clip of the Glenn Miller band with Tex Beneke and one of the greatest dance routines ever in movies by the Nicholas Brothers. From the 1942 movie “Orchestra Wives”
https://youtu.be/fFv_PoZ2iP0
7:42
I crossed that bridge many times on my way to Drummond Island. I remember seeing pictures of hundreds of 1950’s hunters heading north across the bridge. I like quite a few of Bob Seger’s songs.
-I’m rusty of my historical bridge factoids...(correct me if I’m mistaken)
I want to say it was $50 million in Bond sales, backed up exclusively by Tolls. Wasn’t backed-up by Full Faith & Credit of Michigan taxpayers, so yeah.. “privately funded.”
-highly recommend the longer documentary I referenced, but the 10 minute version is pretty good:
Mackinac Bridge, Michigan: “The Five Mile Dream”
1958 US Steel- Lowell Thomas
https://youtu.be/eFsy_EHWM-Q
(10:00)
Mike Rowe does a Cable Light Change on the Mackinac Bridge
2013
https://youtu.be/zmQgQr9t3kQ
2:35
Very cool!
I’m between Holland & Grand Haven myself. Have a small piece of land in Kalkaska County (near Traverse City) I dearly love, and always enjoy checking to see if the Bridge is still there....
Different lake of course, but that song brings back so many memories.
Probably worse than getting kicked by Gordon Lightfoot.
After WWII my parents both became state employees so I was born and went to school in Lansing but my heart and soul belong to Northern Michigan. I will never consider Lansing my home and I have always considered our family place “Up North” as home.
After my Mom passed away I inherited the family property up there. It has been owned by my family since 1884 and the new house was built in 1905. I am currently remodeling it and my wife and I will be there permanently in two years.
Our first thing to do is take a trip over to Oscoda to see the old base there (my wife was stationed there while I was in college down south) then up to spend a few nights in the Grand Hotel on the Island. From there we will hit the UP and see Tahquamenon Falls (both upper and lower) then over to the Soo to see the locks.
We can’t wait.
My sister was stationed at Oscoda. SAC airbase...1967 to 1969.
The underwriters estimated that two construction workers would die building it. ‘Only’ one did, so the state got a refund check.
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