42,000 Enjoy ‘Flawless’ Mackinac Bridge Walk

Governor Granholm speaks to members of the Michigan Department of Transportation at the bridge walk finish line in Mackinaw City. MDOT is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Also pictured is MDOT Director Gloria Jeff, immediately to the left of the governor.

Though not as many people attended as first expected, the 48th annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk was successful on many levels.

The weather was warm and sunny throughout the day, Michigan Department of Transportation concluded its 100th anniversary celebration with fireworks, Governor Jennifer Granholm broke her record for fastest running Michigan governor, and only three minor injuries occurred during the 48th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk Monday, September 5.

Greg Main of Mackinac Island was one of the 300 participants of the Bridge Run, a program Governor Granholm started last year. Other participants from the area were Dan Musser III and Tim Putman, both of Mackinac Island, and Jason Sweeney of Cedarville.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney said an estimated 42,000 people either walked or ran the five-mile-long bridge Monday, September 5, about 5,000 fewer than last year. The Bridge Authority was expecting 50,000.

“The bridge walk went great,” said Mr. Sweeney. “It was a flawless event, it moved well, we received a lot of compliments.”

He said the beginning of the walk, a little after 7 a.m., had fewer people than usual, but the crowd picked up shortly after 9 a.m. The Bridge Authority let the last group of walkers through at 11 a.m.

Governor Granholm jogged her way across, finishing in 40 minutes, 52 seconds and breaking her own record of 44 minutes, 43 seconds set last year.

Governor William Milliken still holds the bridge walking record of 46 minutes, 50 seconds.

After her Monday morning bridge run with an entourage of family and friends, Governor Granholm met with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) employees at the finish line to celebrate MDOT’s 100th anniversary. She made no mention of the recent power struggle between MDOT Director Gloria Jeff and the Mackinac Bridge Authority, but did pose with Ms. Jeff for a photograph before heading to Cheboygan for the annual walk of the State Street Bridge there.

As part of MDOT’s celebration, a large fireworks display was shot from Dock 3 in St. Ignace Sunday evening. The $24,000 display, seen by communities in St. Ignace, Mackinaw City, and on Mackinac Island, was contributed by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

MDOT had scheduled a fly-over by Michigan Air National Guard jets, however, that event was canceled at the last moment “in deference to the unprecedented humanitarian recovery efforts underway in the Gulf Coast states following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the loss of life associated with the recent bridge disaster in Iraq, and rising gas prices,” according to an MDOT news release Friday, September 2.

No security incidents were reported by the 12 law enforcement agencies patrolling the bridge walk. Mr. Sweeney said a man twisted his ankle boarding a bus to return to St. Ignace after the walk, and two other men did not feel well and were treated.