KY-IN-MI-OH Trip Day 3

Day 3 – Petoskey to Sault Ste. Marie to Detroit Started the day on a frosty morning in Petoskey, traveling up U.S. 31 through resort towns by scenic lakes and hills to its end at Interstate 75. Stopped by Fort Michilimackinac State Historic Park in Mackinaw City to view the Mackinaw Bridge in 27 degree wind. The Mackinac Bridge, nicknamed the “Mighty Mac” or “Big Mac”, spans the Straits of Mackinac between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. The Straits connects Lakes Michigan and Huron and separate the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of the state. Traveling a distance of 8,614 feet, the suspension bridge is the third longest in the world. Drivers travel the span for a total of five miles when incorporating its approaches.

Looking north at the Mackinac Bridge

The Mackinac Bridge opened on November 1, 1957 after three and a half years of construction to replace ferry services connecting U.S. 23 with U.S. 2 at St. Ignace. Towers of the signature span rise to a height of 554 feet and are sunk 210 feet into the submerged bedrock. Every Labor Day morning two lanes of the span are closed to vehicle traffic for the annual Bridge Walk.

There are no shoulders on the bridge and the inside lanes constitute an open steel grid to reduce both its load and improve its wind resistance.

Tolls are levied to cross the bridge in both directions at a rate of $3.00 per passenger vehicle. Speed limits are set at 45 for passenger cars and 20 mph for commercial trucks.

Interstate 75 concludes at the customs station just north of the Exit 394 diamond interchange with Easterday Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie. The customs plaza lies at the foot of the tolled International Bridge leading north to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Fees to cross the cantilever bridge are set at $2.50 per passenger vehicle.

Business Spur Interstate 75 joins downtown Sault Ste. Marie with Interstate 75 (Exit 392). The spur continues the Great Lakes Circle Tour as well and follows Riverside Drive east to its end near Ashmun Street. Business Loop Interstate 75 through St. Ignace represents the former alignment of U.S. 2. U.S. 2 was shortened 53 miles from its Sault Ste. Marie end in 1983 to Exit 344 of Interstate 75. However the route was removed from State Street in St. Ignace when Interstate 75 first opened.

A look at the northbound ends signage for Business Spur Interstate 75 on Riverside Drive in Sault Ste. Marie. Riverside Drive continues southward from the end to 22 mile Road near Stirlingville.

Business Loop Interstate 75 ends at the U.S. 2 westbound beginning in St. Ignace. This shield assembly is done entirely in Clearview font!

Heading back south onto the Lower Peninsula, Interstate 75 remains somewhat lightly traveled through to its merge with U.S. 23 near Standish. The southbound rest area at milepost 262 is currently closed, but will reopen summer of next year. The freeway expands to six overall lanes from Exit 164 southward to Exit 144 and eight lanes from Exit 144 to Interstate 475’s north end (Exit 125).

Interstate 675 is undergoing major reconstruction involving the northern terminal interchange and the bridge over the Saginaw River. Currently the northbound ramp to Interstate 75 north from Interstate 675 north is closed. Additionally the entire southbound side of the freeway was closed over the Saginaw River until this afternoon (November 13) at 3 pm! An awkward detour was in place from Interstate 675 south for interests to downtown Saginaw utilizing Interstate 75 south to Interstate 675 north. The work is part of a $42-million improvement project on the freeways deteriorating bridges. Construction on the northbound side, which is currently relegated to one through lane across the river, is slated to begin in March 2010.

Northbound Interstate 675 travelers squeeze through one lane across the Saginaw River through to Exit 3 (M-58). The restriction will remain in place throughout the winter season leading to a complete closure of the river span when construction resumes in the spring.

Interstate 475 provides the urban loop joining the downtown area of Flint with Interstate 75 to the north and south. Surprisingly, the freeway carries a 70 mph speed limit throughout its 16.99-mile routing. The freeway carries six lanes from Exits 13 to 4. Interstate 75 meanwhile stays west of the city, meeting Interstate 69 near the GM Truck and Bus Assembly Plant. While passing by the factory along I-75 north, we noticed a set of traffic lights hanging above Spielman Drive on the facility grounds. The signals were deactivated at the time, but are visible in street view.