Interstate 75 (Michigan)
Page 7 - Mackinaw City to Ontario Border

Continue south along I-75.  Click here for Grayling to Mackinaw City images.

Departing Mackinaw City on I-75 North approaching the Mackinac Bridge. Presumably, the wooden snow fence in the center median of I-75 on the approach to the Mackinac Bridge is intended to discourage illegal U-turns and pedestrian crossings over this narrow four-lane freeway.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Ascending the Mackinac Bridge approach spans on I-75 North. There are a total of four traffic lanes across the Mackinac Bridge. There are two lanes for I-75 North traffic and two lanes for I-75 South traffic. The speed limit across the bridge is 45 miles per hour. Pedestrians are prohibited from crossing the bridge, except during the Annual Bridge Walk, which takes place each year on Labor Day weekend.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

The Mackinac Bridge approach spans continue for approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers), before reaching the main suspension structure. The Mackinac Bridge has a total length of 5 miles (8 kilometers), including the approach spans. Until recently, the Mackinac Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is still the longest bridge of this design in North America.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

After a lengthy 2 mile ascent, the suspension spans of the Mackinac Bridge come clearly into view. The suspension cables are anchored into the large concrete pier situated below I-75 in the foreground.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Approaching the south (Mackinaw City) tower of the Mackinac Bridge. The awe-inspiring towers of the Mackinac Bridge stand 552 feet (168 meters) above the water.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

The main suspension span of the Mackinac Bridge is 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) in length between the two towers. According to M.D.O.T., the total length of the suspension portion of the Mackinac Bridge is 8,614 feet (2,626 meters).

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Passing below the south (Mackinaw City) tower of the Mackinac Bridge. At this point, one can appreciate the true scale of this bridge, as traffic on I-75 is dwarfed by the height of the tower.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Approaching the north (St. Ignace) tower of the Mackinac Bridge. This photo was taken just beyond the mid-point of the suspension span, where the roadway elevation is 199 feet (61 meters) above the water.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

The two innermost lanes of the Mackinac Bridge run across an open steel grate deck, affixed to a prefabricated steel deck truss superstructure. The open steel grate panels allow wind gusts to pass up through the center of the bridge deck superstructure, thus reducing the wind loading on the suspension span.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Facing north along I-75 from the north (St. Ignace) tower of the Mackinac Bridge.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Descending from the Mackinac Bridge on I-75 North, approaching the Upper Peninsula. At the northern end of the bridge, I-75 traverses a comparatively short causeway before arriving at the toll plaza.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Approaching the toll plaza at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace. Tolls are collected in both directions on the Mackinac Bridge. The current (2008) toll rates for passenger vehicles is $3.00.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Facing south along I-75 towards the Mackinac Bridge from the toll plaza. While the median across the bridge is fixed, the actual approach to the toll plaza does not have a median. This flexible lane configuration at the toll plaza allows for a greater number of toll booths to be opened to serve additional bridge patrons, in the event that traffic volumes are substantially heavier in one particular direction.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Commemorative plaques marking the completion of the Mackinac Bridge near the St. Ignace Toll Plaza. Construction of the Mackinac Bridge began in 1954. The bridge was officially opened to traffic on November 1, 1957, although some outstanding construction work was carried over into 1958.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Northern side of the Mackinac Bridge Toll Plaza in St. Ignace.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Close-up of the toll plaza in St. Ignace, showing the Mackinac Bridge in the background.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Facing north along I-75 towards the US 2 Interchange from the Mackinac Bridge Toll Plaza.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Western side of the Mackinac Bridge, as seen from the Upper Peninsula. The Mackinac Bridge is truly one of the world's greatest Post-War bridge engineering accomplishments. Sadly, this bridge was one of North America's last great suspension bridges ever built. By the 1960s and 1970s, more economical bridge construction methods had been developed to span highways across wide expanses of water. As a result, relatively few suspension bridges have been built in North America over the past few decades.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

0.25 mile advance exit sign for the St. Ignace BL I-75 (Exit 344 A) on I-75 North, located immediately after the Interstate departs from the toll booths for the Mackinac Bridge.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Sign truss on I-75 North at the first interchange in the Upper Peninsula, which doubles as the Eastern Terminus of US 2 and the Southern Terminus of the St. Ignace BL I-75.  At this point, the exit ramp to BL I-75 North (Exit 344 A) diverges from I-75 North.  Note that the pull-through sign for I-75 North only denotes one lane...of course, there are two through lanes, but they note just the left lane so through traffic can avoid the weaving of traffic entering from US 2 East and exiting for US 2 West ahead.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Bridge-mounted exit sign for US 2 (Exit 344 B) on I-75 North, affixed to the overpass that carries the transition of US 2 into the St. Ignace BL I-75.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Highway sign indicating the current (2008) toll rates for the Mackinac Bridge on US 2 in St. Ignace.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Overhead signs marking the I-75 interchange immediately north of the Mackinac Bridge on US 2 in St. Ignace. Although unmarked on this overhead sign, BL I-75 continues straight ahead, while US 2 ends at the interchange.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Mackinac County
City of St. Ignace

Overhead exit sign for US 2 (Exit 344) on I-75 South.  The interchange between I-75, US 2 and BL I-75 is a seven-ramp parclo, with the only quadrant not featuring a loop ramp being the southwest quadrant, as the southbound exit ramp is bi-directional.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

High Res       

Mackinac County
City of St. Ignace

Sign gantry featuring 0.5 mile advance exit sign for US 2 (Exit 344) and exit sign for Portage Ave. (Exit 345) on I-75 South.  I-75 meets Portage St. at a partial interchange, where access is possible only from I-75 South to Portage Ave. and from Portage Ave. to I-75 North here.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

High Res       

View of I-75 North as it heads away from the Portage Ave. interchange (Exit 345) in St. Ignace.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Facing south along I-75 towards St. Ignace near Chain Lake.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Exit sign for H-63/Mackinac Tr. (Exit 348) on I-75 North.  The exit ramp actually connects to the St. Ignace BL I-75, as this diamond interchange marks its Northern Terminus.  However, BL I-75 intersects H-63 at a T-intersection just a block to the east of the interchange.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Advance exit sign for M-123 (Exit 352) on I-75 North, situated 1 mile before the interchange.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Exit sign for M-123 (Exit 352) on I-75 North.  The exit that functions as the Southern Terminus of M-123 is a diamond interchange.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Facing north along I-75 towards the Pine River Bridge between St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

Exit sign for M-48 (Exit 373) on I-75 North.  This interchange, a diamond, marks the Western Terminus of M-48.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

1 mile advance exit sign for M-80 (Exit 378) on I-75 North.  The upcoming exit serves as M-80's Western Terminus.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

I-75 North arrives at its exit for M-80 (Exit 378), a diamond interchange.  M-80 is a newer state route in the Upper Peninsula, designated in the mid 1990s as a short connector between I-75 and M-129 in the Kinross area.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

0.75 mile advance exit sign for M-28 (Exit 386) on I-75 North, affixed to the 10 Mile Rd. overpass.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Exit sign for M-28 (Exit 386) on I-75 North.  This particular interchange is a five-ramp parclo, with the southeast quadrant being the lone one featuring two ramps.  M-28 comes to an end approximately 3 miles to the east of here at its intersection with M-129. 

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Advance exit sign for the BS I-75/3 Mile Rd. interchange (Exit 392) on I-75 North, located 1 mile before the 2nd-to-last interchange in the northbound direction for the Florida-to-Michigan Interstate near Sault Ste. Marie.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Exit sign for BS I-75/3 Mile Rd. (Exit 392) on I-75 North at the Southern Terminus of BS I-75.  BS I-75 heads into downtown Sault Ste. Marie, then turns east and follows Portage Ave. to its Northern Terminus at the Sugar Island Ferry Docks.  This interchange is a five-ramp parclo similar to the one at M-28, but in this case the northwest quadrant is the one with two ramps.   

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Located just after the BS I-75/3 Mile Rd. interchange, this blue guide sign along I-75 North advises motorists to tune their radios to 530 AM for information regarding travel into Canada.  This sign appears less than 2 miles from the International Bridge.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

1 mile advance exit sign for Easterday Ave. (Exit 394) on I-75 North.  The upcoming interchange is the final one prior to the International Bridge, and as such, black-on-yellow text appears denoting that this is the last chance for motorists to exit before the toll booths for the International Bridge.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

A sign truss appears along I-75 at its final northbound interchange, Easterday Ave. (Exit 394), which connects I-75 with the downtown Sault Ste. Marie area, as well as the Soo Locks.  An I-75 ENDS assembly appears just on the other side of this interchange, immediately before the toll booths for the International Bridge.

Photographer: David Stilwell

Date: 6/26/2007

Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge at the northern end of I-75 in Michigan.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2008

I-75's Northern Terminus is at the Canadian Border in Sault Ste. Marie, where the International Bridge connects I-75 with Ontario's Highway 17 at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 
Click here for Ontario Highway 17 images.