Mackinac Bridge at 50 featured on new 2007 state transportation map
Mackinac Bridge at 50 featured on new 2007 state transportation map
The newest edition of the Official Michigan Department of Transportation map is now available at Travel Michigan Welcome Centers and MDOT offices across the state. The 2007 theme is “The Magic of Michigan’s Mighty Mac,” which celebrates the Mackinac Bridge at 50.
The bridge opened to traffic on Nov. 1, 1957, and promptly became a national icon and source of pride for Michigan residents. In 1958, the bridge received a “most beautiful bridge” award from the American Institute of Steel Construction. Today, the tourist magnet attracts millions of visitors each year.
“This year’s map celebrates one of our state’s true gems – the Mackinac Bridge,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “It was a fitting tribute to place this beloved landmark on the cover of one of Michigan’s most requested tourist guides.”
The 2007 edition has several updates, including the return of 15 city maps. For a city map to be included on the official state map, the city’s metro area must have a population of 25,000 or more. In addition, the two port cities of Sault Ste. Marie and Port Huron are included, and Marquette, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. Steudle explained that more city maps were added because the department was responding to customer requests.
Another new feature is a red triangle designation for rest areas with family restroom facilities. In addition, the index of cities and the downtown Detroit map are now larger and easier to read.
A Web-based version of the map is available in both PDF and Flash versions. The new Adobe Flash-based map viewer provides a faster, interactive viewing experience. It reduces the Mackinac Bridge at 50 featured on new 2007 state transportation map February 15, 2007 file size of the maps to less than one-quarter of the PDF-version maps, and provides tools for navigating to areas of interest on the map. Adobe Flash Player 8 version, or later, is required to operate the new map viewer. This is available as a free download from www.adobe.com.
Two million maps will be produced this year, costing just 19 cents per copy. To view the online version of the map, get more details, report a suspected error, or request a free copy, go to the MDOT Web site: www.michigan.gov/statemap.
