
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
More episodes of Talking Michigan Transportation
- Reprise: The people behind a most iconic international handshake · June 12, 2026 · 20 min
- ITSA meetings to showcase transportation innovation in Detroit · June 4, 2026 · 30 min
- U.S. House makes progress on transportation funding · May 21, 2026 · 27 min
- Legislation aims to teach new drivers how to navigate work zones · May 14, 2026 · 33 min
- Three years later, is the hands-free law reducing Michigan crashes? · May 6, 2026 · 35 min
- What we learned from a Michigan maritime policy panel · April 30, 2026 · 35 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast page.