Driving a Truck Across the Mackinac Bridge

This was my first trip through the Upper Paninsula (U.P.) of Michigan. I picked up my load in Marinette, Wisconsin, U.S.A. which is about an hours drive north of Green Bay and it delivered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada which allowed me to drive through the UP along the northern shore of Lake Michigan on October 30, 2010. The Mackinac Bridge (aka, Big Mac) is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Here are the stats:

Opened to traffic: Nov, 1, 1957
Total length: 5 miles 26,372ft/8,038m
Length of the main span (between the towers): 3,800ft/1,158m
Total length of the 0.196in/.498cm diameter wire in the main cables: 42,000 miles/67,592 km

More detailed info can be found at Mackinacbridge.org

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[CutThatMeat]

I don't know if it was planned but this video was uploaded on the 53rd anniversary of the opening of the Mackinac Bridge.  I love the Bridge and da UP!

[woodencoasterfan]

@CutThatMeat It was just sheer luck that I uploaded it that day. I believe the actual video was shot a week earlier.

[MLeyden91]

$22.50!!!! HOLY CRAP!

[woodencoasterfan]

@MLeyden91 That's not the worst I've seen. The George Washington Bridge linking New Jersey with the Bronx is about $45 for trucks. The Mackinac's toll rates are based on the weight of the truck as it rolls over the platform scales just before the toll booth in the video. I was relatively light on that trip as I had about 15,000lbs in the trailer. I can legally carry up to 45,000lbs.

[Williamkurk]

I hate that center lane...geesh. Gives me the creeps. I just posted a vid of my first time over the bridge too. Beautiful bridge...but I'm not a fan of heights and large bodies of water.

[nelliet1950]

I wonder why the speed for trucks is so slow, it seems they would let them go a bit faster unless there is a worry about vibration.