Infrastructure Enthusiasts: An Opportunity to Purchase an Authentic Section of Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge

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      Michigan's "Fix the damn roads!" initiative spearheaded by Big Gretch has led to an increase in road construction projects across the state. However, anyone who frequently travels between Michigan's two peninsulas knows that maintenance on the Mackinac Bridge has been an ongoing issue for much longer. There’s now a silver lining—beyond the essential fact that maintenance prevents the bridge from collapsing.

      Currently, repairs to the bridge deck (which connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas) have offered a chance for infrastructure enthusiasts to obtain a piece of highway history. The Mackinac Bridge Authority is auctioning off sections of the bridge’s original metal decking through GovDeals. The Authority has been replacing around 20 panels annually for the last three decades and only made them available for public bidding after fans discovered the panels were being discarded.

      The drainage grates are designed to keep the roadway clear of water and snow, but as expected from steel that is 70 years old and at the end of its lifespan, it’s not in great condition. Additionally, it was originally coated in lead-based paint, which is not surprising, considering the bridge was completed in the 1950s and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time.

      Jerry Perez/The Drive

      Even if you're undeterred by that, keep in mind that these aren’t items you can easily transport in the trunk of your compact car; each piece is nearly 40 feet long and weighs about as much as a Ford Explorer (around 4,500 pounds). The Bridge Authority will cut your section in half and assist with loading both halves into your vehicle, but anything beyond that will be your responsibility.

      The Authority has multiple sections listed on the auction site, all of which will expire next Monday (Nov. 17, 2025). If the decking proves too expensive and you're just looking for a small piece of Mackinac history, they also have used toll tokens for sale, which will definitely fit in the back of your Corolla.

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