Surprise, the Mackinac Bridge is Not the Largest Bridge in Michigan – This is

The Mackinac Bridge that connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas is the state's most iconic bridge and without question the longest, but it's not the largest.

The Mackinac Bridge is nearly 5 miles long, carries 4 lanes of Interstate 75 and is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Yet, there is a bridge in Michigan that's larger. It's exactly 300 miles south of the Straits of Mackinac on I-75 in Detroit.

The bridge over the River Rogue is officially, according to the state's Department of Transportation, the largest bridge in Michigan in terms of bridge deck surface area. At a scant 1.63 miles but with 8 lanes of traffic the total area of the River Rogue bridge is larger that than that of the Mighty Mac.

READ MORE: The New Detroit Sign is Green for a Surprising but Very Logical Reason

The River Rogue bridge was the subject of the largest road project in Michigan for 2017-2018 when the bridge closed for 2 years for reconstruction.

While northbound traffic will be maintained on I-75, southbound traffic will take a wide detour on I-96 to I-275 or along local roads such as Fort Street.

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Now that the bridge has been completed, it retains it title as the largest bridge it the state.

Majestic as the Mackinac Bridge? Not even close. It's as utilitarian as bridges come. It is as simple and unassuming as infrastructure could be. But it is a vitally important component of the state's highway network funneling traffic between Detroit to Toledo and beyond.