The most dangerous job in Michigan goes unnoticed

I recently wrote an article about how 50 people each year get to ride to the top of the Mackinac Bridge to see the world from the top of Mighty Mac. These lucky few are taken up in the freight elevator and have to climb the rest of the way to reach the top of the bridge.

But as I was writing this, I remembered an episode of one of my absolute favorite series, Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, This highlighted one of the most dangerous and underrated jobs a Michigander can have: Caretaker of the Mackinac Bridge. Mike joined the crew and was responsible for paint the bridge And Replacing the light bulbs from dizzying heights.

Painting of the Mackinac Bridge

“If you suffer from claustrophobia or fear of heights, this is not the best place for you.”

9&10 News went behind the scenes with an interview with some of the workers responsible for painting the bridge the familiar green it is today. While the color gives the bridge a more iconic look, it also has a practical reason.

The bridge is constantly exposed to water and sand, so painting the bridge prevents it from rusting. Given the high number of people crossing the bridge every day, it is essential to keep the 67-year-old bridge in top condition. This also applies to the inside of the bridge, where workers have to constantly repaint the bridge's tiny service areas for the same reason.

Replacing the light bulbs

In an interview with Mike Rowe, Mike went into detail about how he ended up “580 feet up on the bridge.” The job is a dangerous one that involves walking on the bridge’s overhead cables while also being exposed to the wind. The bridge has 96 lights that prevent planes and ships from crashing into the bridgeand is also decorative.

It's harrowing to watch the footage of Mike walking across these cables. He did it for ONE day, while there are people who do it weekly. The worker accompanying Mike can be heard saying that walking across these cables is “just a matter of routine.” Forgetting to reattach yourself to the safety beams can mean the difference between life and death.

If you cross the bridge and see construction workers on it, you should show them special consideration for their work. It is not for the faint of heart.

Pat Rickley, toll booth operator on the Mackinac Bridge for 30 years