2020 Mackinac Bridge Walk cancelled

ST. IGNACE — One of Michigan’s signature landmarks has announced the cancellation of one of its signature events.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Mackinac Bridge Walk. Although the event was set for September, the sheer size and popularity of the walk makes it difficult to organize while using social distancing protocols.

“It is an unfortunate decision, and one they did not take very lightly,” said Kim Nowack, Executive Secretary for the Mackinac Bridge Authority. “A lot of thought went into making their decision. It boils down to the fact that there’s 30,000 people shoulder-to-shoulder for a long period of time walking across the bridge, and no way to do that with social distancing, and it doesn’t fit into any of the allowable gathering sizes until the pandemic is totally over with.”

Other factors for the cancellation include the financial logistics of organizing the walk. The Mackinac Bridge gains revenue through bridge tolls, and with travel greatly reduced throughout the state, funds have been especially low.

Last year, the Mackinac Bridge Authority spent over $330,000 preparing and hosting the walk.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority is planning on hosting the walk again in 2021.