MACKINAW CITY, Mich. -- The Michigan Department of Transportation says about 33,000 people participated in the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk yesterday. That's about 3,000 more than last year.
Mackinac Bridge Authority director Kim Nowack described it as a "picture-perfect day," with blue skies and a mild breeze. The five-mile stroll across the Mighty Mac resulted in the bridge being closed from 6:30 a.m. until noon.
Allowing the public to walk across the bridge from either side on Labor Day is seen as a way to honor working people.
The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas, spanning the Straits of Mackinac. That body of water connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
The bridge opened in 1957 and, according to Wikipedia, the 26,372-foot-long span is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. It carries I-75 traffic from St. Ignace on the north side to Mackinaw City on the south side of the bridge, and vice-versa.
The Bridge Authority said in a written statement: "Based on the success of the recent events, the 2025 Annual Bridge Walk again started from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, which eliminated the need for busing and offers additional options for participants.
The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 walk was the 67th event. In recent years, crowds ranged from 21,000 to 35,000."
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U.S. Sen. Gary Peters leads the 2025 Mackinac Bridge Walk.Photo: MDOT photos.
The American flag on display lit by the sunrise under the north tower.Photo: MDOT photo.