What type of expansion joints are used on the Mackinac Bridge? How many?
Answer:
There are two large finger joints at the towers to accommodate all the expansion of the suspended spans. There are 11 smaller finger joints and 5 sliding joints across the Mackinac Bridge. In addition, there are 13 expansion joints for the south viaduct spans - one for each of these simple spans. This adds up to a total of 31 total joints.
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Where is the Mackinac Bridge located?
Answer:
The Mackinac Bridge is located in northern Michigan at the Straits of Mackinac. The bridge connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. Mackinaw City is located at the south end of the bridge. St. Ignace is located at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge.
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Is the Mackinac Bridge still the longest suspension bridge in the world?
Answer:
The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan became the longest with a total suspension of 12,826 feet. The Great Belt Bridge in Halsskov-Sprogoe, Denmark, which also opened in 1998, is the second longest suspension bridge in the world with a total suspension of 8,921 feet. The Mackinac Bridge is still the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet. The length of the suspension bridge (including anchorages) is 8,614 feet. The length from cable bent pier to cable bent pier is 7,400 feet. Length of main span (between towers) is 3,800 feet.
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What is the width of the roadway?
Answer:
The width of the roadway is 54 feet. The outside lanes are 12 feet wide (2), the inside lanes are 11 feet wide (2), the center mall is 2 feet wide, and the catwalk, curb and rail width is 3 feet on each side - totaling 54 feet. The stiffening truss width in the suspended span is 68 feet wide making it wider than the roadway it supports.
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What is the height of the roadway above the water?
Answer:
The height of the roadway at mid-span is approximately 200 feet above water level. The vertical clearance at normal temperature is 155 feet at the center of the main suspension span and 135 feet at the boundaries of the 3,000 ft. navigation channel.
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How much does the Mackinac Bridge "swing" or "sway" in the wind?
Answer:
All suspension bridges are designed to move to accommodate wind, change in temperature, and weight. It is possible that the deck at center span could move as much as 35 feet (east or west) due to high winds. This would only happen under severe wind conditions. The deck would not swing or "sway" but rather move slowly in one direction based on the force and direction of the wind. After the wind subsides, the weight of the vehicles crossing would slowly move it back into center position.
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How much weight can the Mackinac Bridge support?
Answer:
The steel superstructure will support one ton per lineal foot per roadway (northbound or southbound). The length of the steel superstructure is 19,243 feet. Each direction will, therefore, support 19,243 tons. The answer is 38,486 tons (2 x 19,243 tons).
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