County Road 557–West Branch Escanaba River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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County Road 557–West Branch Escanaba River Bridge
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | County Road 557 over West Branch of Escanaba River, Wells Township, Marquette County, Michigan |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Built by | P.J. Nickel Company |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architectural style | steel stringer |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001529 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1999 |
The County Road 557–West Branch Escanaba River Bridge is a special bridge in Wells Township, Michigan. It crosses the West Branch of the Escanaba River. This bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it is an important historical structure.
Contents
Building the Bridge: A Look Back to 1928
In 1928, the Michigan State Highway Department decided a new bridge was needed here. They hired the P.J. Nickel Company from Ironwood, Michigan. The company was paid about $20,000 to build it. That was a lot of money back then!
Why This Bridge Was Special
The P.J. Nickel Company used strong steel parts made by the Massillon Bridge and Structural Company. This bridge was one of the first really long single-span bridges in Michigan. New ways of making steel beams allowed for longer and stronger bridges. Since it was built, the bridge has stayed almost the same.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The County Road 557–West Branch Escanaba River Bridge is about 75 feet (23 m) long. The part cars drive on is about 30.1 feet (9.2 m) wide. The whole bridge structure is about 35.5 feet (10.8 m) wide.
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge is a type called a steel stringer bridge. It uses strong steel I-beams that rest on concrete walls on each side of the river. The outside of these steel beams is covered in concrete. This makes the bridge look like it's made completely of concrete. The top surface where cars drive is concrete, with a layer of asphalt over it. There are also guardrails along the sides. These guardrails have decorative posts and panels.
