Thousands Make Annual Labor Day Bridge Trek

ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WWJ) - More than 40,000 people gathered in St. Ignace Monday morning to take part in the annual five-mile Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge.

Governor Rick Snyder, who led the walk, told WWJ Newsradio 950 what the crowd likes to talk about while they're walking.

"They actually like to talk about how much they love Michigan and what some of their favorite things to do in spots are," Snyder said. "It's just a wonderful thing -- people are in good spirits and they want to talk about good things going around the state or other things you should go visit."

Monday marked Snyder's sixth walk across the bridge. The bridge is only open to pedestrians on Labor Day each year.

Bridge Authority Chief Bob Sweeney said it takes him a little more than an hour to make the five-mile walk from the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula.