NTSB: Just How Vulnerable is Michigan’s Most Iconic Bridge?

It's been a year since the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a container ship. Now, the National Transportation Safety Board says the iconic Mackinac Bridge is one of several bridges that need to be evaluated in order to determine if they're vulnerable to collapse if accidentally struck by a ship.

Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

It was early in the morning on March 26, 2024, when the container ship Dali lost power and struck a pillar of the Key Bridge. The accident that caused the bridge to collapse killed six construction workers who fell to their deaths in the Patapsco River.

That bridge - like the Mackinac Bridge - was built before 1991 and had not been evaluated to determine its vulnerabilities in the event of a strike.

Bridge Owners Urged to Assess Structure Vulnerability

More than three decades ago, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recommended that all bridge owners test their structures to identify how vulnerable they were in the event of a strike.

That recommendation was made once again in 2009, according to Baltimore's WMAR-TV. 

Mackinac Bridge in Need of Assessment

Michigan's iconic Mackinac Bridge is one of 68 bridges in 19 states that span waterways that accommodate cargo ships. All of these bridges were built before 1991 and all of these bridges are in need of a current assessment to determine their vulnerability in the event of a ship strike.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority tells the Detroit Free Press that safety on the bridge is a top priority.

Roughly 5 million vehicles cross the Mackinac Bridge each year. Earlier this year, the Mackinac Bridge Authority began imposing a fee for drivers who choose not to pay bridge tolls using cash.