Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt, front right, is one of tens of thousands of people who participated in the 2023 Mackinac Bridge Walk Monday between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. He walks beside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, front left, and dozens of others.

A slight breeze and bright sunshine deserve at least some of the credit for the biggest crowd seen in several years, according the the Mackinac Bridge Authority.

“With roughly 35,000 people from across Michigan and beyond joining us for the bridge walk, this is the largest crowd we’ve seen since 2016, when 45,000 people walked the bridge,” MBA Bridge Director Kim Nowack said. “It was a beautiful day and a perfect opportunity to enjoy the unparalleled views of the Straits.”

The bridge, which closed at 6:30 a.m. to all vehicle traffic for the walk, reopened at noon. Based on the success of the recent events, Monday’s 65th bridge walk again started from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, which eliminated the need for busing and offers additional options for participants.The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 walk drew 26,000 people. (Photo provided by Michigan Department of Transportation Media Services)