Seasonal & Holidays
Detour A Headache for Labor Day Mighty Mac Bridge Walkers
Labor Day is the only day the Mackinac Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, is open to foot traffic.
The 58th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day is expected to bring a throng of 40,000 this year. (Photo via MightyMac.org)
If you’re going Up North to walk across the Mackinac Bridge the Labor Day weekend, pack your patience.
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Getting there could be one big hassle.
A deep underground spring bubbled to the surface and collapsed pavement on U.S. Highway 31 in Emmet County, resulting in a detour lasting through Labor Day as crews make $1.2 million in repairs to fix the problem, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Find out what's happening in Clinton Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 58th annual bridge walk held every Labor Day is the only opportunity to walk across the bridge, the third-longest suspension bridge in the United States and the fifth-longest in the world. About 40,000 people are expected to take the 5-mile trek led by Gov. Rick Snyder.
The walk starts at 7 a.m. in St. Ignace, and participants have until 11 a.m. to start the walk from north to south.
Those traveling to the bridge will also have to battle a crush of traffic coming from touristy spots like Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Charlevoix.
Also on Patch:
The road closure could last until Sept.11, MDOT said. Instead of following detour signs, the transportation department suggests that when northbound Mackinac Bridge walkers reach the traffic signal in Alansan, they should take M-68 east to Indian River, then connect to Interstate 75 and take it to Mackinac City.
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