Lower traffic on Labor Day, but Mackinac Bridge traffic remains steady in September
Despite lower traffic on Labor Day, when the bridge was closed for several hours for the Annual Bridge Walk, Mackinac Bridge traffic stayed steady for September.
About 9,500 fewer vehicles crossed the bridge on Labor Day this year compared to the prior year. This was attributed to travelers choosing to cross the bridge on a different day, as the bridge was closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon during the Annual Bridge Walk. Despite that one-day drop, overall traffic was 463,870 vehicles in September, down only 0.1 percent, or 524 vehicles, from September 2016.
“For the safety and security of this event, the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) board determined the bridge would need to be closed during the walk,” said MBA Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney. “It’s reassuring to see that the closure did not have a large impact on our overall traffic totals.”
For September, passenger vehicles totals were down 3,149, or 0.9 percent, from September 2016. Commercial truck traffic was up 1,049 vehicles, or 4.4 percent, from September 2016.
Total revenues collected for September were nearly $2.49 million, an increase of 1.2 percent from $2.46 million in September 2016.
Overall, nearly 3.3 million vehicles have crossed the bridge this year through Sept. 30, up 2.6 percent, or 83,263 vehicles, compared to 3.2 million vehicles in the same period last year.
The MBA’s sole source of funding is from tolls and fees collected at the Mackinac Bridge. All revenue collected is used to maintain, operate, and protect the 60-year-old National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
For more information on the MBA, current crossing conditions, bridge history, and upcoming events, visit the Mackinac Bridge website at www.mackinacbridge.org.
