Loren Blasing (left) and Ed Lester, Jr. move gates and platform pieces in preparation for the Labor Day Bridge Walk across the Mackinac Bridge. The platform will be set up in the area south of the bridge authority's administration building, from which Governor Granholm will address early arrivals for the walk. About 40,000 people are expected to arrive at the lawn behind the Mackinac Bridge Authority headquarters in St. Ignace Monday morning, September 7, for the 52nd Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk.

Fulfilling the yearly tradition for many who come to the Straits area for the one day a year pedestrians are allowed, free of charge, on the east lanes of the five-mile suspension bridge, these throngs of Michiganders and visitors to the state will begin the crossing at 7 a.m. Some arrive as early as 3 a.m.

The lanes on the west side will be used for motor vehicles traveling in both directions. There are no restrooms on the bridge, although portable toilets will be placed at the start and finish of the walk.

Shuttle buses to the starting area in St. Ignace will start running about 6 a.m. from the parking lot at Little Bear East Arena on Marquette Street in St. Ignace and at about 5:30 a.m. from Conkling Park on South Huron Avenue in Mackinaw City.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority encourages people to park in St. Ignace before the walk and take free shuttle buses from that parking lot to the starting area. This plan mini- mizes congestion in Mackinaw City, which was a major problem in 2007 and caused delays, said Bridge Authority Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney.

To alleviate some of the traffic problems there, Michigan State Police will direct traffic at the M- 108 and US-123 intersection, where congestion was the worst in 2007.

Walkers will be shuttled aboard about 115 school buses, sent from school districts as far away as Harrison, which is sending 12 buses for the first time this year. The Bridge Authority pays districts a flat fee and milage from their school and back.

Shuttle buses from Conkling Park in Mackinaw City to the walk's starting area in St. Ignace will cost $5.

Leading the pack of walkers Monday will be a bridge run offered to pre-qualifying runners by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports. Alongside the governor will be a group of about 350 runners and four wheelchair participants, called wheelers. This group was selected through a lottery in early July, with entrants required to be 18, a Michigan resident, and have participated in an approved run over the pervious year.

The runners and wheelers will begin at 6:40 a.m., and after the governor addresses the walkers, the walk will begin at 7 a.m.

Security personnel and Mackinac Bridge Authority workers will monitor the volume of walking traffic using cameras on the bridge and by watching from positions atop the two bridge towers. As the initial surge of walkers decreases, usually around 9:30 a.m., the walking lanes will be decreased from two to one.

Walkers are allowed to start until 11 a.m., and shuttle buses from Mackinaw City to the starting area and from there to Little Bear East will run until 2:30 p.m.

Safety and security during the bridge walk is ensured by military and police from the National Guard, State Police, tribal police, the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, and sheriff deputies from Cheboygan, Emmet, and Mackinac counties.

At the end of the bridge walk on the Mackinaw City side, Larry Rubin, first executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, will be autographing and selling copies of his book, "Mighty Mac, The Official Picture History of the Mackinac Bridge." Proceeds will go to support St. Ignace Kiwanis Club projects.

Certificates will be given to walkers at the end of the walk.

Merchants in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City will display numbers in their store windows and certificate holders with matching numbers will receive a prize ranging from $15 to $150.

Painters currently sandblasting and repainting the Mackinac Bridge will not be working during the event, and will clear equipment of the northeast anchor pier to make room for National Guard vehicles. Representatives from the bridge said the northwest anchor pier across the roadway will likely still have painting equipment on it.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority has been preparing for the walk since mid-August, putting up fencing to contain participants at the starting area in St. Ignace and corral them to the bus-loading area in Mackinaw City.

As well as Little Bear East in St. Ignace and various public parking in Mackinaw City, parking is offered closer to the bridge at Bridge View Park and near Straits State Park in St. Ignace, although organizers said these locations often fill up with cars early in the morning.

The Authority has been awaiting the 150 millionth vehicle to cross the bridge, and estimates it could cross this weekend.

The walk takes place rain or shine, but lightning or wind, if severe, could cause a delay or cancellation of the walk.

The bridge operates a wind monitoring station 20 miles west of the bridge on St. Helena Island, the direction from which much of the Straits' weather comes from. Winds in excess of 35 miles per hour there could halt the walk.

The first walk was held in June 1958, during summer ceremonies celebrating the opening of the bridge. The structure was open to traffic November 1, 1957.

Early Ferry Boats

Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry will offer early boat departures at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace and an early boat from St. Ignace to the Island at 6:30 a.m.

Star Line will offer an early departure from the Island to St. Ignace at 6:30 a.m.

Shepler's will also offer a special 5:30 a.m. boat from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island, which will allow passengers to catch the 6 a.m. boat from there to St. Ignace.