Lafayette Avenue Bridge

Last updated

Lafayette Avenue Bridge
Lafayette Avenue Bridge 1.jpg
The East Bridge (The Drawbridge)
Coordinates 43°34′47″N83°54′00″W / 43.5797°N 83.90°W / 43.5797; -83.90
CarriesM-13.svgM-84.svg M-13  / M-84
Crosses Saginaw River
Locale Bay City, Michigan
Official nameLafayette Avenue Bridge
Maintained by Michigan Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design Girder Bridge (West Bridge)
Bascule bridge (East Bridge)
Total length310 feet (West Bridge)
436 feet (East Bridge)
History
Opened1938
Statistics
TollNone
Bay City Bascule Bridge
USA Michigan location map.svg
Red pog.svg
ArchitectMichigan State Highway Department
NRHP reference No. 99001465 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 30, 1999
Removed from NRHPApril 20, 2015 [2]
Location
Lafayette Avenue Bridge

The Lafayette Avenue Bridge, formerly listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bay City Bascule Bridge, [3] is the name given to two separate bridges located in Bay City, Michigan. The bridges carry M-13 and M-84 over the Saginaw River. They are maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the bascule portion is currently the oldest of Bay City's four modern drawbridges. [4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 1999, [3] but was removed from the Register in 2015. [2]

Contents

Description

Heading east, the West Channel bridge is a fixed metal continuous deck stringer (Multi-Beam) bridge carrying M-13/M-84 from the western shore of the river to Middle Ground Island. The East Channel bridge is a small drawbridge carrying the road from the island to the eastern shore of the river. M-13/M-84 is known as Salzburg Avenue on the west side of the river, and Lafayette Avenue on the east, which is where the bridge's name comes from. The entire structure is 452 feet long, with a bascule span of 185 feet. When the bascule is raised the bridge provides a 150-foot horizontal clearance. Sidewalks of five feet width run down each side. The bridge also has four observation platforms and a bridge tender's house. [5]

History

The Lafayette Avenue Bridge replaced an earlier bridge built at the same location in 1876. This bridge was condemned in 1934, and a temporary pontoon swing bridge was immediately installed at the site. The City of Bay City began surveying the condition of its bridges in 1936 and developed a plan to replace the Lafayette Avenue Bridge and rehabilitate the Belinda Street and Cass Avenue Bridges. However, funding was scarce as the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, though funding would eventually come through the Public Works Administration, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The current Lafayette Avenue Bridge was completed and opened in 1938. It became the city's southernmost bridge over the Saginaw River in 1955 after the removal of the Cass Avenue Bridge. [4] [6]

The bridge was extensively rehabilitated in 1987, but still functions in place as originally constructed. [5] The 1987 rehabilitation replaced nearly all the superstructure, substituting welded girders for the original riveted ones. [7] Another extensive rehabilitation project is planned to begin in 2020. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay City, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Bay County. The population was 32,661 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Bay City metropolitican statistical area, which is conterminous with Bay County as part of the larger Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montlake Bridge</span> Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States

The Montlake Bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge that carries State Route 513 over Seattle's Montlake Cut—part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal—connecting Montlake and the University District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-13 (Michigan highway)</span> State highway in Michigan, United States

M-13 is a 73.339-mile (118.028 km) north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Saginaw Bay region of the US state of Michigan. It runs from Interstate 69 (I-69) south of Lennon to US Highway 23 (US 23) near Standish. The southern section of the trunkline runs along a pair of county lines in a rural area dominated by farm fields. The highway directly connects the downtown areas of both Saginaw and Bay City. North of the latter city, the Lake Huron Circle Tour follows M-13 along the Saginaw Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zilwaukee Bridge</span> Bridge in Zilwaukee and Zilwaukee Township, Michigan

The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 675 (Michigan)</span> Interstate Highway in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States

Interstate 675 (I-675) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the US state of Michigan. The freeway is a 7.7-mile-long (12.4 km) loop route through downtown Saginaw, as I-75 passes on the east side of the city. I-675 is also a state trunkline highway that provided a bypass of the former drawbridge carrying I-75 and US Highway 23 (US 23) across the Saginaw River. Construction of I-675 started in 1969 and the freeway opened in 1971. Since then, sections near downtown were reconstructed between 2009 and 2011 to update one of the freeway's interchanges and rebuild the bridge over the Saginaw River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-84 (Michigan highway)</span> State highway in Saginaw and Bay counties in Michigan, United States

M-84 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway starts on the west side of Saginaw at an intersection with M-58 and runs north through residential and commercial areas. There are two colleges or universities near the trunkline as it connects Saginaw with Bay City, providing an alternative to the freeway that carries Interstate 75/US Highway 23 (I-75/US 23). The northern terminus is at a pair of intersections with M-25 on the east side of the Saginaw River in Bay City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 23 in Michigan</span> U.S. Highway in Michigan

US Highway 23 (US 23) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Jacksonville, Florida, to Mackinaw City, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan, it is a major, 362-mile-long (583 km), north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Lower Peninsula. The trunkline is a freeway from the Michigan–Ohio state line near Lambertville to the city of Standish, and it follows the Lake Huron shoreline from there to its northern terminus. Serving the cities of Ann Arbor and Flint, US 23 acts as a freeway bypass of the Metro Detroit area. Overall, the highway runs through rural areas of the state dominated by farm fields or woodlands; some segments are urban in character in the Ann Arbor, Flint and Tri-Cities areas. The section from Flint north to Standish also carries Interstate 75 (I-75) along a concurrency that includes a segment that carries almost 70,000 vehicles on a daily basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Bridge (Bay City, Michigan)</span> Bridge in Bay City, Michigan

The Liberty Bridge is a bascule-type drawbridge located in Bay City, Michigan, United States. It spans the Saginaw River and connects Vermont Street and Woodside Avenue. It was built in 1986. Starting June 16, 2023 an electronic toll will start being charged to motorists either through their BC-Pass or E-ZPass transponder or via license plate photo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galveston Causeway</span> Bridge in Texas, United States

The George and Cynthia Mitchell Memorial Causeway is a set of causeways in Galveston, Texas, United States. Two of the routes carry the southbound and northbound traffic of Interstate 45, while the original causeway is restricted to rail traffic. It is the main roadway access point to Galveston Island. The second access point is Bolivar Ferry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University Avenue Bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge crossing the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The four-lane bridge links University Avenue in West Philadelphia with South 34th Street in the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia. It measures 536 feet (163 m) long, 100 feet (30 m) wide, and clears the water by 30 feet (9.1 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge</span> United States historic place

The West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge is a bridge located where Jefferson Avenue crosses the Rouge River at the border of Detroit and River Rouge, Michigan. It is the only surviving pony truss bascule bridge in the state of Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dock Bridge</span> United States historic place

Dock Bridge is a pair of vertical lift bridges crossing the Passaic River at Newark, Essex County and Harrison, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, used exclusively for railroad traffic. It is the seventh crossing from the river's mouth at Newark Bay and is 5.0 miles (8.0 km) upstream from it. Also known as the Amtrak Dock Vertical Lift, it carries Amtrak, NJ Transit, and PATH trains. It is listed on the state and federal registers of historic places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Union Street–Boardman River Bridge</span> United States historic place

The South Union Street–Boardman River Bridge, also known as the Trunk Line Bridge, is a bridge located on South Union Street over the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niantic River Bridge</span> Bridge in East Lyme and Waterford, Connecticut

Niantic River Bridge, also known as Amtrak Bascule Bridge No. 116.74, is a railroad bridge carrying Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line across the Niantic River between East Lyme and Waterford, Connecticut. It is a drawbridge with a bascule-type draw span. A new bridge was constructed in 2012 to replace the former span built in 1907. It opened on September 8, 2012. Related construction work finished in June 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blossomland Bridge</span> Bridge in St. Joseph, Michigan

The Blossomland Bridge is a bascule bridge in St. Joseph, Michigan, that carries M-63 across the St. Joseph River. Delayed by World War II, construction took place from 1947 though 1948. At the time, it was the longest bridge built by the Michigan State Highway Department. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheboygan Bascule Bridge</span> Bridge in Cheboygan, Michigan

The Cheboygan Bascule Bridge, also known as the State Street Bridge, is a double-leaf bascule bridge in Cheboygan, Michigan, carrying U.S. Highway 23 across the Cheboygan River. Built in 1940, it was the last bascule bridge constructed in the state of Michigan prior to the end of World War II. It replaced an aging swing bridge built in 1877. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winant Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Little Ferry and Ridgefield Park

The Winant Avenue Bridge is a vehicular movable bridge spanning the Hackensack River in Bergen County, New Jersey 14 miles (23 km) from its mouth at Newark Bay. Built in 1934, it is also known as the Route 46 Hackensack River Bridge and S46 Bridge, it carries U.S. Route 46 (US 46) in Little Ferry and Ridgefield Park. Owned and operated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the double leaf bascule bridge is located on a navigable reach. While there have been no requests since 1978, the Code of Federal Regulations last amended in 1999 requires 24-hour notice to be opened. The bridge has been minimally altered since its construction and is eligible for individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eighth Street Bridge (Passaic River)</span> Bridge in Passaic and Wallington, New Jersey

Eighth Street Bridge is a road bridge over the Passaic River in northeastern New Jersey, United States. It connects the City of Passaic in Passaic County with the Borough of Wallington in Bergen County and is jointly owned by both counties. The bridge connects Eighth Street in Passaic with County Route 507 in Wallington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gugel Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Gugel Bridge, also known as the Beyer Road – Cass River Bridge, is a bridge carrying Beyer Road over the Cass River in Frankenmuth Township, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It is the only remaining example in Michigan of a bridge with both a pony truss span and a main through truss span.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Weekly list of actions taken on properties [on the National Register of Historic Places]: 4/20/15 through 4/24/15". National Park Service. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Staff. "Bay City Bascule Bridge". State Historic Preservation Office. Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Staff (May 9, 2002). "M-13 & M-84 / E. Channel Saginaw River". Historic Bridge Listing. Michigan Department of Transportation.
  5. 1 2 Clayton B. Fraser (November 1998), NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM: Bay City Bascule Bridge
  6. "Bay County, MI - Historical Events Timeline". Bay-Journal. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  7. "Lafayette Avenue East Channel Bridge Substructure". HistoricBridges.org. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  8. Andrew Dodson (November 2, 2016). "Business owners say 'it won't be easy' when bridge closes for 24 months". MLive.com.