Bridge Walk Attracts 62,500
Bridge Walk Attracts 62,500
The 1999 Labor Day Bridge Walk was a success. Approximately 62,500 people walked across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day morning. The picture to the right shows eager walkers waiting to board one of the 127 buses that transported walkers from Mackinaw City to the starting line in St. Ignace.
Under cloudy skies and a temperature of 73 degrees, Governor John Engler, his wife Michelle, and their three daughters began the walk at 7:00 a.m. Participants in the walk came from all parts of the world. Poland, Germany, Jamaica, France, England, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Brazil and Canada were among the countries represented in the 1999 walk.
This is the 34th year in a row that the Governor of the State of Michigan has participated in the walk. The late Governor G. Mennen Williams participated in the first walk in 1958. The first walk was held in June of 1958 in connection with the Mackinac Bridge dedication activities. In 1959, the date of the walk was changed to Labor Day and has been held on that day ever since. This year marked the 41st Labor Day walk and the 42nd bridge walk. The first walk had about 65 participants.
The Mackinac Bridge Authority would like to express our thanks to those who worked with us to make this a safe and pleasant event for all. We also want to thank the participants for observing the bridge walk rules. We look forward to another great walk next year. See you in 2000!
