bridge

Never Forget Who We Are

Posted on September 11, 2025 by farlane

Old Glory from the South Tower of Mackinac Bridge by MightyMac

MightyMac.org shares that Old Glory is flying from one of the towers of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge this morning in memory of first responders and all those who died on 9/11. It’s a tumultuous time almost without precedent in the US, and I am hopeful we can use the memory of the incredible violence we watched together as a nation to remind ourselves that we loving all our neighbors is the only way to go.

You can see it live on the Riviera Motel’s Mackinac Bridge Cam.

Big Penny celebrates munching her 100th truck!

Posted on August 28, 2025August 28, 2025 by farlane

Number 98 by STUPID – Lansing

Back in May, we introduced you to Big Penny, Lansing’s Truck Munching Bridge & now she’s back to show the Mighty Mac it’s not the only bridge making news. This diminutive 12-foot tall bridge has taken some big bites over the years – so many that as of May 1, 2025 she had snacked on 87 semis since counting began in 2004. Despite the added exposure Penny has been on an absolute tear in 2025, and yesterday our friends at STUPID Lansing threw a party celebrating the 100th truck munched! WLNS Lansing was there to document this historic occasion, and you can head over to STUPID – Lansing for more on this important story & some great Big Penny merch!

Almost time for the 2025 Mackinac Bridge Walk!

Posted on August 27, 2025April 10, 2026 by farlane

Walking by Margaret Waggoner

One of Michigan’s annual traditions is the Mackinac Bridge Walk that takes place every year on Labor Day morning. The Mackinac Bridge Authority shares that there’s no fee or registration to participate, and you may start walking from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace any time after the Governor’s party starts the walk at approximately 7am (from St Ignace). You can’t start after 11:30am, so arrive arrive early!

Get details on all this & also the Labor Day Bridge Run from MackinacBridge.org.

Margaret shared this photo back in 2016. See more in her Mackinac Bridge Walk 2016 gallery on Flickr & whatever you do, have an awesome holiday weekend!

Dawn Amidst the Fog

Posted on August 14, 2025 by farlane

Dawn Amidst the Fog by Eric Hackney

An absolutely stunning shot of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge that links to the cities of Houghton & Hancock on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

See more in his Landmarks & Landscapes gallery on Flickr and for sure view & purchase his work at erichackneyphotography.com.

2025 opening of Gordie Howe Bridge in question

Posted on August 11, 2025August 11, 2025 by farlane

Freighter passing under Gordie Howe Bridge by Ryan Jake Jakubowski

The Detroit News digs into emerging signs that the planned Fall 2025 opening of the Gordie Howe will be delayed due to issues with new construction at the US Port of Entry & multiple links to the bridge in southwest Detroit:

…The S&P analysis said delays at the future U.S. Port of Entry “may delay substantial completion by about six months.” The 167-acre U.S. Port of Entry includes border protection facilities for passenger and commercial vehicle and maintenance facilities. The southern edge of the complex is on the 6300 block of West Jefferson Avenue near Historic Fort Wayne in the Delray neighborhood.

The S&P analysis pointed out that a key “handover date” was missed last September that would have allowed U.S Customs to begin its six months of work needed to make the facilities ready to open. That new target for the handover date was July 31. It is unclear if the handover occurred. The WBDA cited security concerns that won’t allow it to comment on “certain aspects” of the U.S. Port of Entry.

Completion of the Michigan interchange portion of the project in southwest Detroit is not expected to be done until Aug. 31, more than 120 days longer than contractually planned, the S&P report said. The work involves building four new road bridges, five new pedestrian bridges and four bridges crossing a railway and connecting to I-75. Work on this can be seen on blocks of Fort Street, I-75 and the freeway service drive. Bridge officials said that various aspects of the Michigan Interchange work continue but did not give a completion date.

Read on for more but it’s sounding like we might not be riding bikes to Canada on the Gordie Howe this fall after all. 🫤

Ryan shares that this is one of his favorite shots of the new bridge. Click the pic to follow him on Facebook & head over to J&C Photography to view & purchase his work and to hire him for photographic services including drone photography & 360 degree panoramas.

More freighters & bridges on Michigan in Pictures!

Bridging the Gap between US & Canada … with Bikes!!

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by farlane

Canadian & US Flags on Gordie Howe International Bridge

Last week the Gordie Howe International Bridge shared that the Canadian and US flags have found their permanent home at center of the bridge deck, adding “Soon you’ll be able to see the flags for yourself from the multi-use path as you walk or bike across the bridge.” Bike to Canada you say?? Beauty!!

The Gordie Howe Bridge multi-use path will be one lane and will accommodate two-way pedestrian and cyclist traffic. It will be 1.5 miles in length and 11.8 feet wide. The multi-use path will be toll-free & connect to local road and trail networks. In Windsor, there will be connections to the Broadway Street Multi-Path and the Trans Canada Trail. In Detroit, there will be linkages to the Great Lakes Way which provides water & land routes from Lake Erie to Lake Huron and Iron Belle Trail that runs all the way to the far western corner of the Upper Peninsula!

Lots more from Gordie the Bridge! And you can bet I’ll be getting you the info about riding the Bridge just as soon as I have it! More bikes & biking on Michigan in Pictures including (very soon) the scoop on this Iron Belle Bike Trail!

Michigan Air Quality remains terrible

Posted on July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 by farlane

Mackinac Bridge Haze July 14 by Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

The Huron Daily Tribune shares that the National Weather Service & Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued an air quality alert for elevated levels of fine particulate over the weekend:

“Pollutants across the state are expected to reach the very unhealthy to unhealthy range in northern locations, with ranges of unhealthy to (unhealthy for sensitive groups) further south,” according to the service. Wildfire smoke from Canada is pushing into Michigan from till Monday. Increased fine particulate levels reached the western portion of the Upper Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.

This zoomed in view of the live Mackinac Bridge webcam at the Riviera Motel shows how much the smoke from wildfires is impacting the view of the Bridge this morning in Mackinac City.

Tune into the live Mackinac Bridge Cam!

Posted on July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 by farlane

Rainbow at the Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

Might Mac Rainbow by the Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

One of my favorite recent finds is the 24-hour live Mackinac Bridge Camera presented by Mackinac City’s Riviera Motel. Enjoy!!

Gordie Howe Bridge almost complete!

Posted on June 17, 2025June 17, 2025 by farlane

Gordie Howe International Bridge June 2025

In June 2024 I shared photos of the US & Canadian crews “topping out” the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Topping Out is a special ceremony dating back over a thousand years that symbolizes connection. Ironworkers say the evergreen tree signifies a job well done & believe the custom brings good luck.

I read a news story the other day that says they will soon be testing the bridge lights & thought it would be a good time to check in on this incredible structure Canada is spearheading. The project remains on track for a fall 2025 opening, and when complete the Gordie How Bridge will be the biggest land port of entry between Canada and the U.S. with 130 acres, 11 structures, 16 toll lanes, and 24 primary inspection lanes on the Canadian side and 167 acres, 13 structures, and 36 primary inspection lanes on the US side.

The pics below (except the first two) are from June 2025. Lots more on the Gordie Howe Bridge website!

Canada brings the smoke to Michigan

Posted on June 5, 2025June 5, 2025 by farlane

Canadian Wildfire Smoke by Mackinac Bridge Authority

“Unfortunately, what you’re seeing today is not fog surrounding the Mackinac Bridge but smoke coming from the wildfires and our neighbors to the North.” -The Mackinac Bridge on X (which I won’t link to)

Yesterday morning the Mackinac Bridge Cam captured smoke so dense that it looked like the bridge was shrouded in fog! There’s less today but it’s still an astonishing amount of smoke so be sure to keep an eye on your local air quality because as the map shows, it’s not great right now!