Crystal Springs Street–Dowagiac River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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M-86–Prairie River Bridge
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Photo from 2014 from the M-86–Prairie River location
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Crystal Springs Street over the Dowagiac River, Pokagon Township, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Built by | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architect | Ira Lyons |
| Architectural style | Camelback pony truss |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000044 |
| Added to NRHP | February 4, 2000 |
The Crystal Springs Street–Dowagiac River Bridge is a special road bridge in Michigan. It carries Crystal Springs Street over the Dowagiac River near Sumnerville. This bridge has an interesting history. It was moved to this spot in 2017.
Before that, from 1938 to 2016, it was about 50 miles away. It carried M-86 over the Prairie River near Nottawa. Back then, it was known as the M-86–Prairie River Bridge. This bridge is important because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It is the last "camelback pony truss" bridge of its kind still used on a state highway in Michigan. A pony truss bridge has its main support structure (the truss) on the sides, but it's not tall enough to form a tunnel over the road.
Contents
History of the Bridge
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge was designed in 1923 by the Michigan State Highway Department. A builder named Ira Lyons constructed it. Its first location was on Telegraph Road over the Rouge River.
Moving and Rebuilding the Bridge
In 1938 or 1939, the bridge was moved. It was rebuilt as part of a Public Works Administration project. This was a government program to create jobs during tough economic times. The bridge replaced an older type of bridge. L. W. Lamb was the contractor who oversaw this rebuilding. The bridge was put back together mostly as it was, but two sidewalks on the sides were removed.
New Home for the Bridge
In 2016, the Michigan Department of Transportation removed the bridge from M-86. They replaced it with a wider, newer structure. This historic bridge was then carefully restored. In 2017, it found a new home on Crystal Springs Street. It now crosses the Dowagiac River in Pokagon Township, Cass County.
What the Bridge Looks Like
Design and Size
The bridge is made of riveted steel. It's a "camelback pony truss" bridge with eight panels. This means its top support beam has a unique shape, like a camel's hump. The bridge is 90 feet long. Its concrete deck, where cars drive, is 32.8 feet wide. The actual roadway for vehicles is 27 feet wide.
Parts of the Bridge
Five strong I-beams support the bridge's floor. The top part of the bridge's frame is made of channels with a crisscross pattern. The bottom part and vertical supports are made from pairs of angles with a plate in the middle. A metal guard rail acts as a safety barrier. The bridge rests on strong concrete supports called abutments. U-shaped concrete walls, called wing walls, are on each side where the road meets the bridge.
