Why did they build the Mackinac Bridge?
Michigan has two peninsulas – the Upper and the Lower. The closest point between the peninsulas is the Straits of Mackinac – approximately 4 miles in length. Because of the distance and difficulty to get back and forth, people were interested in improving transportation and commerce. In 1923, the State Highway Department started ferry service in the Straits area in response to demand for service. Ferry boats were very popular and the demand increased. In the last year of operation, the ferries transported 900,000 vehicles. The ferries couldn’t keep up with the demand. It proved that if you provided a connection, people would use it.
