ST. IGNACE, Mich. — The Mackinac Bridge Authority has canceled the upcoming Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The board voted unanimously in favor of the decision at a special meeting on Wednesday.
Prior to making their decision, board members cited recent forecasts from health officials that indicate the pandemic will continue to be a health and safety concern for large crowd events for the foreseeable future.
"We recognize that September is months away but the event requires months of planning and early expenditures," board chair Patrick Gleason said. "Like organizers who have postponed festivals and other summer events, we needed to make a decision now."
"We can't in good conscience continue with an event we know draws people from across our state and beyond, and puts them shoulder-to-shoulder for hours, when medical advice strenuously advises against such gatherings," Gleason said.
Tens of thousands of people partake in the annual bridge walk, which has taken place since 1958.
Gleason expects the bridge walk to resume in 2021.
