Why falling ice leads to closing the Mackinac Bridge

Why falling ice leads to closing the Mackinac Bridge

From Talking Michigan Transportation by Michigan Department of Transportation

March 26, 2026 · 28 min · Season 8 · Episode 262

About this episode

The episode discusses the dangers posed by melting ice from the Mackinac Bridge and the resulting need for bridge closures.

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, questions and explanations about the increasing frequency of melting ice falling from the Mackinac Bridge cables, creating hazards for motorists and the need to close the bridge for many hours at a time. This video illustrates the danger. First, Joe Shampine, maintenance supervisor for the Mackinac Bridge Authority, talks about the dangers the heavy ice presents to travelers below and the decision-making process for closing and reo...

People in this episode

Guest: Joe Shampine

Topics covered

  • Mackinac Bridge
  • ice hazards
  • motorist safety
  • bridge closure
  • maintenance

Keywords

  • Mackinac Bridge
  • ice falling
  • motorist hazards
  • bridge maintenance
  • safety measures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mackinac Bridge Authority

Places: Mackinac Bridge

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