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Engineering the Impossible: How The Mackinac Bridge Overcame the Straits (Original Post) catbyte Jan 29 OP
That was fascinating - thanks rurallib Jan 29 #1
I hated waiting for the ferry. Biophilic Jan 29 #2
Ha, try the center lanes on a motorcycle. JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 29 #3
Yeah, but the long way around seems a bit excessive. Biophilic Jan 29 #4
I'll be going over that bridge in a few months, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 29 #5
I don't like those either. Biophilic Jan 29 #6
When I cross The Bridge, I prefer the grates. catbyte Jan 29 #7
The Grates are not Great LessAspin Jan 29 #8

Biophilic

(6,469 posts)
2. I hated waiting for the ferry.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 04:08 PM
Jan 29

The opening of the bridge was awesome, but I never got comfortable driving on those center lanes. Very interesting video, thanks.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,632 posts)
3. Ha, try the center lanes on a motorcycle.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 05:35 PM
Jan 29

You can look straignt down and see that you're flying over water. And the grates make the steering feel a bit "loose".

And, there are always some construction barrels forcing you off the concrete and onto the iron grating.

For all that, it beats the ferry.

Edit to add: I guess I could go the long way around, through Chicago and up the west shore of Lake Michigan.

Biophilic

(6,469 posts)
4. Yeah, but the long way around seems a bit excessive.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 05:44 PM
Jan 29

I’ve had other people tell me the same about how motor cycles felt on those grids. The chances of me ever going over that bridge again are very slim, but the Mighty Mac lives on in memories.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,632 posts)
5. I'll be going over that bridge in a few months, ...
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 05:53 PM
Jan 29

... but my two-wheeler days are behind me.

I don't know why the bridge doesn't bother me, when I dread the long low causeways down south.

catbyte

(38,832 posts)
7. When I cross The Bridge, I prefer the grates.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 06:03 PM
Jan 29

Even though they make "that noise" and you can see 200 feet down to the water, all I can think about when I'm on the pavement is that poor woman in the 1980s who was driving a little too fast in her Yugo and went sailing over the edge at about the midway point. I have a nice, sturdy Subaru, but it still gives me the willies.



LessAspin

(1,896 posts)
8. The Grates are not Great
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 06:16 PM
Jan 29

But I agree .. driving over those noisy grates is preferable to shooting over the side of the bridge down to the Icy Water 💦

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