On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. After the pandemic forced cancelation last year for the first time since the inaugural walk to mark the bridge’s dedication in 1958, walkers and runners will once again descend on St. Ignace and Mackinaw City on Monday, Sept. 6.

James Lake, MDOT’s North Region media relations representative who also helps with communications for the Mackinac Bridge, joins the podcast to talk about what to expect this year.

He underscores two important points:

— The bridge will once again be closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon to avoid conflicts between public vehicles and runners and walkers on the bridge; and

— The walk will once again commence on each end of the bridge with most walkers going halfway and turning around so they can end in whichever community they parked a vehicle.

This video explains the format.

Despite the changes in the format implemented to ensure the safety and security of walkers, some 30,000 people participated in 2019.

Podcast photo: A blue police car stands watch as thousands of people enjoy walking the Mackinac Bridge in 2019.

The return of a Michigan tradition — The Mackinac Bridge walk