G. Mennen Williams Freeway
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The G. Mennen Williams Freeway is the name given to the portion of I-75 in Cheboygan County, Michigan beginning at the southern end of the Mackinac Bridge and proceeding southerly. The first segment of the freeway opened to traffic in November 1957 in Mackinaw City, USA originally as part of US-31, with subsequent segments to the south completed by 1962.
This portion of I-75 was named for the 41st Governor of Michigan, G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams, under whose administration (1949-1961) the Mackinac Bridge was built and opened to traffic. The segment of I-75 south of the bridge was named in honor of Williams simultaneously with a similar designation for I-75 north of the bridge in Mackinac County for Senator Prentiss M. Brown, a St. Ignace native, who was also instrumental in moving the Mackinac Bridge from planning through to construction and was also longtime chairman of the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
