When researching Cheboygan County History, I am reminded of one of the greatest things that ever happened to Northern Michigan and the U.P.

People who remember crossing the Straits of Mackinac from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace on the ferries or the traffic backups that stretched back to Cheboygan during deer hunting season likely still feel the excitement and wonderment they felt upon seeing the great Mackinac Bridge for the first time! This bridge would join Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas for the first time since the Glacial Age. It was a dream come true!

The bridge was built after extensive planning by expert bridge engineers. Things were delayed a bit when engineering professors from the University of Michigan claimed that the towers needed for the suspension bridge would not find solid footing in the Straits and would fall into the lake.

There were many disputes to come, including convincing the State House and Senate to approve legislation to authorize a bridge. Another source of disagreement was where the new highway to reach it would be located. There was intense lobbying by local governments and chambers of commerce on the southern side of the bridge. Many towns wanted the new four-lane highways leading to the bridge to be routed by their communities. They rightfully wagered the new bridge and highways would be a tourist boon for some lucky towns.

Early in the process, one suggestion was to build a series of bridges from Cheboygan to Bois Blanc Island, on to Mackinac Island and Round Island, and then to St. Ignace.

Leaders from Petoskey and Cheboygan fought especially hard for the highway route to come to their cities. Proposals were put forth by coalitions to utilize US 31 and 131 through Petoskey, or US 23 from Bay City to Cheboygan, or M-27 from Gaylord to Indian River and north through Cheboygan before finishing in Mackinaw City. In the end, the engineers in the Planning Division of the Michigan Highway Commission won out, and the route of the new highway was to be from Indian River north to Mackinaw City. That route is mostly in Cheboygan County, but it was too far from the city of Cheboygan to make a huge immediate impact for our local businesses.

Another massive problem to be overcome was finding the funds to finance construction. The cost of constructing the bridge was estimated to be over 100 million dollars, a princely sum for those days. Eventually, the Mackinac Bridge Authority was given the power to sell bonds to finance construction. Interest on these bonds was five-and-one-half percent. Finally, the money was raised! Construction began in March, 1954.

And what a magnificent bridge it was! This breathtaking new bridge would span five miles, crossing both Lakes Huron and Michigan at the Straits of Mackinac. It would reduce the time spent crossing the Straits from an hour (or many more during hunting season) to 10 minutes or less.

The bridge opened in 1957. The bridge connects U.S. 2 and I-75 in the Upper Peninsula to I-75, U.S. 27, U.S. 23 and US. 31 in the Lower Peninsula. The people of the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan are very proud of the North, and, especially, the bridge. It brought easy access, more tourists and more dollars to the people living on both sides of the Straits.

Five workers lost their lives during construction. They were ironworkers, and their fellow ironworkers created statutes on both ends of the bridge in their honor.

You may not know this, but a bridge across the Straits was dreamed about for a long time. In 1884, a resident of Traverse City, Thomas E. Bates, wrote “A sure and permanent crossing at the straits is vital if a great through-route from east to west is to be achieved.”

I would like to end this column with a personal story. Once when my husband and I were traveling to Florida for the winter, we had a flat tire. My husband was not handy and the tools we needed were underneath our luggage. My husband emptied the trunk and found the necessary tools. He struggled and struggled in the pouring rain, but could not get the portable jack to lift the car. The jack kept tipping over when he got to a certain point. He grew more furious with each failed attempt.

Thank God, a semi-truck pulled up in front of our car. The driver asked if we needed help. My husband said “Yes” and the truck driver had the tire changed in a few minutes. My husband offered to pay him, but the trucker said “No, but I notice that you have a license plate that says ‘I used to be a YOOPER.’ My wife comes from the Upper Peninsula and she would love that!” My husband told him to take it for helping us! The trucker removed it and left, beaming with joy! The fabulous Mackinac Bridge carried that license plate and his huge semi across the Straits in 10 minutes. We were sure it was a big surprise to his wife and made her very happy!