It's a Bridge Tech Thursday

Good news US 2 travelers- The Cut River Bridge is open. For those of you that don't regularly travel the northernmost of US highways, this site is located west of the Mackinac Bridge and has been under reconstruction for quite some time. See, it had a bit of a washout problem a couple of years ago, and it has design features similar to the bridge that failed in Minnesota. Now it is freshly refurbished, reinforced, and ready for service. It is also a high-tech communicator, telling it's eager listeners about the weight of vehicles approaching and crossing it, moisture data from on top and below the surface, ice formation, current weather conditions and other vital facts concerning its well being. As you pass by you'll see its communication tower positioned in perfect line-of-site for transmitting this into to receivers at the Mackinac Bridge. Its brain and mouth get energy from the solar panels on the tower (there's no power plug at the Cut River). Take a couple of minutes out of your journey from St. Ignace to Duluth and stop for a stroll across the upgraded pedestrian walk-way. It's a great view high above Lake Michigan. Safe travels.