Mackinac Bridge congestion

[Molandfreak]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

[SEWIGuy]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder how much a new bridge would cost today? I mean, it would have to be in the billions.

[Moose]

I wonder how much a new bridge would cost today? I mean, it would have to be in the billions.

Not only that, but from my foggy memory. The gist of why they went with tunnels in the study was (even in the late 90s when this was done) They could be built with precast parts that could be sunk and covered and unflooded. While someone else built the road segments, and a third party worked on the causeways and island. In probably less time then a bridge replacement.

A new bridge construction would have to deal with five (Or more) years of construction in weather that is often downright hostile. And worksite conditions they were okay in the 50s, would not fly 50 years later, so the construction was going to likely be much longer than the original bridge.

Even then the study stressed the best alternative was preservation of the existing span indefinitely was a far better option then anything else.

[Flint1979]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

I haven't said a word to you. Wtf are you trying to start?

[Flint1979]

I wonder how much a new bridge would cost today? I mean, it would have to be in the billions.

Well it was like $96 million in the 1950's so yeah probably just over a billion today.

[SEWIGuy]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

I haven't said a word to you. Wtf are you trying to start?

Bwahahahaha....

You are so silly.

[Flint1979]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

I haven't said a word to you. Wtf are you trying to start?

Bwahahahaha....

You are so silly.

Yeah I'm the one that's silly but you mentioned me again after having attacked me in this thread. What is your problem? Oh I don't agree that the Mackinac Bridge should have EZ-Pass? Really? Grow up.

[SEWIGuy]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

I haven't said a word to you. Wtf are you trying to start?

Bwahahahaha....

You are so silly.

Yeah I'm the one that's silly but you mentioned me again after having attacked me in this thread. What is your problem? Oh I don't agree that the Mackinac Bridge should have EZ-Pass? Really? Grow up.

"Attacked" you?  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Are you really this humorless? 

[Flint1979]

Let's see, posts #152 and 155 in this thread most certainly attacked me. You people don't even know what you are talking about anyway, I don't care how many people on here agree with you.

[Flint1979]

Oh and #226 was attempting to attack me as well when I hadn't said a word to you in several pages but oh here you are trying to stir the pot.

[SEWIGuy]

Let's see, posts #152 and 155 in this thread most certainly attacked me. You people don't even know what you are talking about anyway, I don't care how many people on here agree with you.

Oh and #226 was attempting to attack me as well when I hadn't said a word to you in several pages but oh here you are trying to stir the pot.

Yikes. Probably best for you to turn in for the night. Cause this is kind of embarrassing.

Wake up tomorrow with a more positive approach OK?

[Flint1979]

Let's see, posts #152 and 155 in this thread most certainly attacked me. You people don't even know what you are talking about anyway, I don't care how many people on here agree with you.

Oh and #226 was attempting to attack me as well when I hadn't said a word to you in several pages but oh here you are trying to stir the pot.

Yikes. Probably best for you to turn in for the night. Cause this is kind of embarrassing.

Wake up tomorrow with a more positive approach OK?

What's embarrassing? Not a damn thing. You can turn in for the night and wake up tomorrow with a more positive approach because you have not made no positive approach here.

[Flint1979]

You are the one that mentioned me and I replied and now your mad. Like I told you earlier, grow up. The Mackinac Bridge will most likely never have EZ-Pass because there is no benefit in getting it. You people think the lack of it causes backups on the bridge, it does not. The bridge is two lanes in each direction, often with a lane closed for maintenance or construction the toll plaza not accepting EZ-Pass is not the reason for any backups on the bridge. Then you say that I haven't given a valid reason why they shouldn't have it, I have been doing that the entire thread.

[Rothman]

Oy vey.  SMH.

[Plutonic Panda]

Of course it would be replaced. The economic health of the UP depends on it for tourism and access to the border, the universities up there, etc.

Which also begs the question why the Michigan Tourism Department, various chambers of commerce, and other business interests in the UP haven't put the pressure on the MBA to adopt a better business model for the MacPass at the very least, if not start doing ETC and accepting E-ZPass. People's vacations becoming a traffic nightmare benefits no one.

Because Flint runs the MBA.

I haven't said a word to you. Wtf are you trying to start?

Bwahahahaha....

You are so silly.

Yeah I'm the one that's silly but you mentioned me again after having attacked me in this thread. What is your problem? Oh I don't agree that the Mackinac Bridge should have EZ-Pass? Really? Grow up.

You are really coming off as a troll here. You just won't let go of the EZ Pass thing. That was brought up as an example of what could be used for the bridge. The overall tone or insinuation that I think most people are agreeing on this thread is that electronic tolling should be implemented that is also interoperable with other agencies. And nobody is attacking you.

[SEWIGuy]

You are the one that mentioned me and I replied and now your mad. Like I told you earlier, grow up. The Mackinac Bridge will most likely never have EZ-Pass because there is no benefit in getting it. You people think the lack of it causes backups on the bridge, it does not. The bridge is two lanes in each direction, often with a lane closed for maintenance or construction the toll plaza not accepting EZ-Pass is not the reason for any backups on the bridge. Then you say that I haven't given a valid reason why they shouldn't have it, I have been doing that the entire thread.

1. No you haven't. I decided days ago not to debate this any longer because you are simply being stubborn.

2. I'm not mad...at all. I am laughing at how personally you are taking was just a quip of a joke. Instead of letting something like that just roll off your back, you claim you are being "attacked." Which is wild.

Anyway, hope you had a good nights sleep. I sure did.