Chicago Drive Bridge facts for kids
The Chicago Drive Bridge is a special bridge in Wyoming, Michigan. It is also known as the Business Route M-21–Plaster Creek Bridge. This bridge carries a road called Business Spur I-196 over Plaster Creek. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it is an important historical place.
Quick facts for kids |
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Business Route M-21–Plaster Creek Bridge
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location |  BS I-196 over Plaster Creek, Wyoming, Michigan |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Built by | Hilding & Rabe; |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architectural style | concrete bridge |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001522 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1999 |
History of the Chicago Drive Bridge
In 1916, the Michigan State Highway Department designed this bridge. It was called Trunk line Bridge No. 58 back then. The bridge was built to carry Chicago Drive over Plaster Creek. Chicago Drive was an important state road.
The state hired contractors named Hilding and Rabe from Grand Rapids. They built the bridge for about $13,146.55. This was a lot of money in 1916. Today, that would be like $229,274! The cost was shared. The Kent County Road Commission and the Grand Rapids Railway Company helped pay.
The bridge was finished in 1916. For a few years, it carried tracks for an interurban tram line. An interurban tram was like a streetcar or light train. It connected cities. In 1919, the railway company stopped using the line. They removed the tracks from the bridge. Since then, the bridge has been used only for cars and trucks. Today, this road is part of Business Spur Interstate 196.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Chicago Drive Bridge is about 60 feet (18 meters) long. It is a type of bridge called a "filled spandrel arch bridge." This means it has a strong, curved arch underneath.
Each end of the bridge has large concrete supports. These are called abutments. An arch with a smooth, curved shape connects these supports. The arch is made of concrete. It is built right into the side walls of the bridge.
The top of the bridge has an asphalt road for cars. There are also concrete sidewalks on both sides for people to walk on. The sides of the bridge have solid concrete guardrails. These guardrails have special rectangular designs carved into them. You can also find bronze plates on the inside of the guardrails. These plates say "Trunk Line Bridge."
