Talking Michigan Transportation

The return of a Michigan tradition — The Mackinac Bridge walk

September 03, 2021 Season 3 Episode 71
Talking Michigan Transportation
The return of a Michigan tradition — The Mackinac Bridge walk
Show Notes Transcript

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. After the pandemic forced cancelation last year for the first time since the inaugural walk to mark the bridge’s dedication in 1958, walkers and runners will once again descend on St. Ignace and Mackinaw City on Monday, Sept. 6. 

James Lake, MDOT’s North Region media relations representative who also helps with communications for the Mackinac Bridge, joins the podcast to talk about what to expect this year. 

He underscores two important points: 

—   The bridge will once again be closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon to avoid conflicts between public vehicles and runners and walkers on the bridge; and

—   The walk will once again commence on each end of the bridge with most walkers going halfway and turning around so they can end in whichever community they parked a vehicle. 

This video explains the format. 

Despite the changes in the format implemented to ensure the safety and security of walkers, some 30,000 people participated in 2019.

Podcast photo: A blue police car stands watch as thousands of people enjoy walking the Mackinac Bridge in  2019.

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Jeff Cranson: Hello. This is the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast. I'm Jeff Cranson, director of communications at the Michigan Department of Transportation.

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Cranson: The Mackinac Bridge Walk is a tradition in Michigan dating back to 1958 when the bridge was first dedicated. Over the years, thousands of people have walked the length of the spectacular span that links our state's pleasant peninsulas. In 2020, because of the pandemic, the walk had to be cancelled for the first time in history, but we're pleased to renew this event this year.

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Cranson: Here to talk about this year's walk is James Lake, who is a veteran media relations specialist at MDOT, and he has the North Region, which is much of the northern area of the Lower Peninsula and his duties also include working on communications and media relations for the Mackinac Bridge Authority. So, James, thanks for taking time to talk about this. The walk is back on after a year's hiatus. What do people need to know?

James Lake: Well, think it can be summed up in in two main points. One is if you're traveling that day, you need to be aware that the Mackinac Bridge is going to be closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon. There won't be any vehicle traffic allowed across the bridge, so we're encouraging people to make their travel plans around that schedule. The second point is, you know, since 2018 we've allowed walkers to start from both ends of the bridge, but we've got that hard window. We're going to reopen the bridge at noon, so we need to make sure that people are on the side of the bridge that they intend to return to by 10 a.m. They have the option to walk part way across the bridge, halfway across and turn back, all the way across, all the way across and back, so lots of options. That main point is remember to be on the side of the bridge where your car is at 10 a.m.

Cranson: So, let's go back to that first point for a minute. What has—I mean obviously we've done a lot but talk about what we've done over the last few years to make sure that members of the public who aren't participating in the Bridge Walk but are traveling that day, you know, north or south are aware that the bridge is closed.

Lake: Yeah, prior to 2017 half of the bridge remained open during the Bridge Walk, that western side, so north and southbound traffic was allowed. Starting in 2017, you know, based on the recommendations of MSP and Homeland Security, it was decided we can't continue that with vehicle traffic. Now all of a sudden people couldn't be traveling in that window, and even when they could there were huge backups, miles long backups on US-2 and I-75 of people waiting to cross the bridge. So, we really didn't want that to happen, so starting that year we launched a pretty broad campaign to reach as many people as we could, and it's things like using Twitter, Facebook, other social media, putting out news releases. One of the key components was posting messaging on our dynamic message signs throughout the state letting people know that the bridge was going to be closed in that window: 6:30 a.m. to noon.

Cranson: Now I have to treat you like an engineer. Explain what the dynamic message signs are.

Lake: Yeah, those are those are those large freeway signs that have changeable, you know, letters and numbers. We've got a network of them throughout the state, and they're typically employed for travel information, travel times, things like that. People would definitely know them if they saw them.

Cranson: And, you know, because of the way we inundated that at state parks and other places and on the message boards, I know a friend of mine a couple years ago, said, “I can't go anywhere without hearing that the bridge is going to be closed. Isn't that overkill?” And I said, “Yes.”

Lake: Yep, absolutely. That is the idea is to make it almost impossible for people to not know that the bridge is going to be closed for those times.

Cranson: And it's been successful.

Lake: It has been. Yeah, we thought we'd still have some backups, but then in 2017 those backups did not materialize. We followed the same formula, I guess, for getting the word out in 2018, 2019 and, again, we didn't have backups. So, we hope, you know, with a one-year hiatus in in 2020 that people haven't forgotten that. We've spent all summer reiterating those messages about the closure. We're hoping that that even if there's new participants, new travelers that day they've heard the message.

Cranson: Well, we know, in fact, I think there were stories this week in various media outlets leading into Labor Day weekend about the travel up north, that term we use in Michigan however you define it, but it definitely includes the Upper Peninsula. We know that the visits to the various attractions, the state parks, everything, have been on the rise. So, that probably goes to that concern about how many people might be trying to make their way home on Monday.

Lake: Right, and there are a lot of veteran travelers, you know, who have owned recreational vehicles and boats for years and years and have made travel across the bridge part of their Labor Day plans. But we also know from other news reports that people are buying RVs like they hadn't before and new boats and more recreational equipment, so there may be some relatively new Labor Day north-of-the-bridge travelers that haven't experienced the Bridge Walk closure before.

Cranson: They're sure going to find out on their way up.

Lake: They are, yeah, part of what we're doing this week is handing out some small flyers to people that are headed north through the tollbooths letting them know, again, about the closure and, you know, if they plan to participate in the walk letting them know the basics of that as well.

Cranson: And we should, again, give a big thanks to our friends at the DNR who have been very helpful in sharing the message.

Lake: Definitely, and the Department of State, Secretary of State, they've been helping us get the word out as well.

Cranson: Stay with us. We'll have more on the other side of this important message.

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Narrator: Avoid the wait and remember the Mackinac Bridge is closed to traffic Labor Day for the Annual Bridge Walk starting at 6:30 a.m. Spend some extra time in the U.P. or take your time heading north since the bridge won't reopen to traffic until noon to allow walkers to clear the bridge. For more information head to Mackinacbridge.org/walk.

Cranson: Talk in a little more detail I guess about, you know, how important it is to find a way to continue this tradition. I mean, there were discussions on everything back leading up to the 2017 changes of, you know, doing away with the walk once and forever because of Homeland Security and police concerns about terrorist attacks around the world involving, you know, vehicles and people. Then there was, you know, debate of, “Well, do we just started on one side and shorten the time?” And I think one of the one of the employees at the Mackinac Bridge Authority actually had the very creative idea to do this, you know, kind of halfway thing. You can go from either side and still get that best view from the, you know, kind of the apex of the bridge and see that gorgeous sunrise on Lake Huron and still get back to your vehicle. I think we settled in a good place, but what does it mean? I mean, what have you found out over the years living in northern Michigan and what it means to the to the people and businesses in Mackinac City and St. Ignace?

Lake: Yeah, well, the word that springs to mind and the one that I use most often when I’m describing the event is beloved. It is a beloved event. People all across the state, even people who don't participate, haven't participated I think they feel this sense of connection to an event. The bridge is symbolic in so many ways, you know, joining the two parts of Michigan together and connecting us for travel and recreation, commercial travel and traffic as well. I know from hearing from businesses in the straits area, this is a huge event. Summertime tourism in northern Michigan is kind of make or break for a lot of these businesses. If they can't make their money in those summer months they struggle, and big events like the Annual Bridge Walk bring a lot of people to the straits area, fill a lot of hotel rooms, fill a lot of restaurants, and they're buying gasoline at the gas station. So, they look forward to this really boosting their bottom line.

Cranson: I think going to what you've said about the iconic nature of the bridge and the pride that people have in it and people feel, rightly, in Michigan like it's their bridge, you know, it belongs to all of us. It's not only the symbolism of linking the two peninsulas but the, you know, sheer ambition that went into building it and to think it could be done in the straits. It's a symbol of when we used to do big things in infrastructure and, you know, the iron workers. I remember, you know, when one year at the Grand Rapids Press, we sent an iron worker up there for then it would have been ’97, so it was the 40th anniversary. The guy was in his 70s. He lived in White Cloud, and he had no problem going right to the top, you know, walking around up there and remembering what it was like to build it. I mean, just incredible pride.

Lake: Yes, absolutely and I think the people that walk the bridge on that day form a deeper connection with the structure itself. I mean, it's one thing to drive across it and it's spectacular, certainly, always impressive views, but to put your feet on the deck of the Mackinac Bridge and walk beneath the towers and the cables is something else entirely. Really, year after year when I’m there the people's faces as they're crossing the bridge, they're just smiling ear to ear. They love it. It's just a wonderful experience and a lot of people schedule their vacation plans around the Mackinac Bridge Walk.

Cranson: Yeah, and that's what the people in the straits want to hear.

Lake: Yes.

Cranson: Well, thanks, James. I’m looking forward to walking it again this year and seeing you on the south side when we finish up. And I appreciate all of your work that you do corralling media and helping to get the word out about this.

Lake: Yeah, it's my pleasure. Great event to be to be a part of.

Cranson: Thank you again for listening to this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast. I would like to thank Randy Debler and Corey Petee for engineering this week's podcast. To subscribe to show notes and more, go to Apple podcasts and search for Talking Michigan Transportation.