Lilley Road–Lower Rouge River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lilley Road—Lower Rouge River Bridge
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Recently reconstructed bridge in September 2020
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lilley Road over Lower River Rouge Canton, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Built by | Massillon Bridge and Structural Co. |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architectural style | Camelback pony truss |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000078 |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 2000 |
The Lilley Road—Lower Rouge River Bridge is an important bridge for cars in Canton, Michigan. It crosses over the Lower River Rouge on Lilley Road. This bridge is special because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. This means it is a historic landmark worth protecting.
Bridge History
This bridge was first built a long time ago, between 1923 and 1924. A company from Ohio called Massillon Bridge Company built it. It was not always in its current spot.
Moving the Bridge
The bridge was originally placed on Telegraph Road. It crossed a different part of the River Rouge there. But just ten years later, Telegraph Road became much wider. This meant the bridge had to be taken down.
Around the same time, Wayne County took over caring for the Lilley Road crossing. Canton Township used to be in charge of it. The county decided to move the bridge from Telegraph Road to its new home on Lilley Road. They even changed the river's path a little to fit the bridge. The bridge was moved very carefully, so it kept its original look and strength.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Lilley Road Bridge is a special kind of bridge called an eight-panel Pratt camelback pony truss. A truss bridge uses a framework of triangles to make it very strong. The "camelback" part means its top looks like a camel's hump.
Bridge Structure
The top part of the bridge is made of strong metal beams. These beams are connected with X-shaped supports. The bottom part also has strong metal beams. The road itself is built on sturdy I-shaped beams. These beams are securely attached to the bridge's main structure.
The entire bridge is about 90 feet (27 meters) long. The main part that spans the river is about 84 feet (25 meters) long. The bridge is about 27 feet (8 meters) wide. It also has sidewalks on both sides for people to walk safely.
