ST. IGNACE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – State Rep. Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs) wants answers after a record year of Mackinac Bridge closures.

The lawmaker is proposing a $600,000 study through Michigan Tech to find out what’s behind the spike in shutdowns triggered by falling ice, and how to fix it.

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Fairbairn calls the bridge “the linchpin” connecting Michigan’s two peninsulas. “When the bridge closes, it puts serious strain on families, workers, and businesses across the state,” Fairbairn said. “Safety has to come first, but closures have become far more frequent in recent years.”

The numbers tell the story: the Mighty Mac averaged about one closure a year over the past three decades. This winter, falling ice forced it to shut down at least a dozen times. Some of those closures lasted more than 30 hours.

The study would examine structural problems, road conditions, and weather patterns. In addition, it would measure the economic toll on travelers and local communities when the bridge is shut down.