To keep the Mackinac Bridge in tip-top shape, the Bridge Authority is preparing a major deck replacement project that would begin in the year 2033 and finish in 2050, just before the existing deck reaches the end of its service life. Project manager Tom Spoth says the new deck would re-configure the steel grating that now occupies the entire left lanes between the two towers.
“Open grating would be located near the bridge rail along the lane line, underneath the median barrier, and the same thing on the opposite side of the bridge. This grading is used because it’s light in weight and is very favorable for wind performance because it doesn’t allow differential pressures to build up during windy periods above and below the deck.”
All four lanes of the new deck would expand from the current 11-foot width to the standard 12-feet, add crash-tested railing and include a raised median to divide traffic.
