MACKINAW CITY, MI - Paul Matelski has literally been working his way up in his job at Michigan's iconic Mackinac Bridge for the last two decades.

He started working on maintenance projects below the decks of the 5-mile-long span that connects the state's upper and lower peninsulas. Now as a steeplejack and assistant foreman, Matelski works on the bridge's tower and cables.

A picture of him on his gorgeous perch - high above the Straits of Mackinac - recently was posted on Facebook by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Matelski, a St. Ignace native, had this to say about his job: "Sometimes the weather is bad, but you've got to take the bad with the good. It's a great place to work because you get paid to do it, plus a beautiful view!"

MDOT's thumbnail feature of Matelski coincides with spring maintenance work being done on the Mackinac Bridge.

Motorists who cross this spring may see "steeplejacks" - the workers who make the high climbs out onto the landmark bridge's beams and cables - checking for any winter damage.

They are looking for any deck joints that have been damaged by snowplows, or steel grating that might need reinforcement, the Mackinac Bridge Authority has said.

Crews are also removing excess sand from the bridge, which is used instead of road salt in the winter months.