The Mackinac Bridge will close to all vehicle traffic Monday, Sept. 7, for the 68th annual Labor Day Bridge Walk, an event that drew 33,000 participants last year.

Walkers can start from either end of the five-mile bridge. The St. Ignace start is at Bridge View Park on the west side of I-75. The Mackinaw City start is at the Jamet Street ramp. No registration or fee is required.

The dual-start format, in place since 2018, eliminates the need for bus transportation across the bridge, according to the Mackinac Bridge Authority. The Bridge View Park starting point on the St. Ignace side replaced the MBA administration building in 2024.

Kim Nowack, the Mackinac Bridge Authority's bridge director, said in a June 26 press release that the format changes "have made it safer and easier for everyone to participate in this beloved event."

What walkers need to know

The bridge closes at 6:30 a.m. and reopens to traffic at noon. Walking begins at 7 a.m., and no one may start after 11:30 a.m.

Participants have three options: walk to the midpoint and return to their starting city, walk the full five miles to the opposite end, or make the 10-mile round trip. Walkers must be on the side of the bridge they want to return to by 10 a.m. After that, turnaround points begin moving toward the ends.

Anyone who crosses the full bridge must arrange their own ride back. The MBA does not provide shuttle service after the walk and cannot guarantee outside shuttles will be available. Local Mackinac Island ferry companies offer transportation between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, according to the MBA's walk page.

The bridge closure follows recommendations from the Michigan State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Prohibited items include signs, banners, umbrellas, bicycles, roller skates, skateboards and wagons. Smoking is not allowed. Animals are banned except working service dogs. Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and baby strollers are permitted.

There are no restrooms on the bridge. Portable toilets are set up near the entrances in both cities. The average crossing takes about two hours. Walkers receive a numbered certificate at the end.

Planning your trip

Nowack urged motorists to plan around the closure. She advised travelers to cross the bridge before 6:30 a.m. or wait until after noon to avoid backups, according to EUP News.

Participants who park on the east side of I-75 in St. Ignace will be guided across the road before and after the walk.

Residents can sign up for free text alerts about bridge closures through Mackinac County 911 and Emergency Management's RAVE Alert System by texting "MacBridge" to 67283.

Anyone needing disability accommodations should contact the Mackinac Bridge Authority by Friday, Sept. 4, at 906-643-7600. The walk has been held every year since 1958, with the sole exception of 2020.