New Richmond Swing Bridge facts for kids
|
New Richmond Swing Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Manlius Township, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Milwaukee Bridge & Iron Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000273 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1998 |
The New Richmond Swing Bridge, also known as the Fifty-Seventh Street Bridge, is a special one-lane bridge in Michigan. It's located in Allegan County's Manlius Township. This bridge used to connect 57th Street with Old Allegan Road, crossing over the Kalamazoo River.
The name "New Richmond" comes from an old mining town that used to be in the same area. This bridge is very old. It might even be the oldest swing bridge still standing in the United States! It's also one of the oldest metal bridges in Michigan. Plus, it's the longest "pony truss" bridge in the state. A swing bridge can pivot or "swing" open to let boats pass through.
Contents
Bridge History
The very first bridge at this spot was built in 1842. It was part of a road that linked Allegan to a town called Singapore, which no longer exists. This first bridge was made of wood and could be opened, like a drawbridge.
In 1856, a similar wooden bridge replaced the first one. But in 1877, part of this bridge fell into the river. So, by late 1878, plans were made to tear down the old wooden bridge. They decided to build a new one made of iron.
Building the Iron Bridge
The Milwaukee Bridge & Iron Company was hired to build the main part of the bridge we see today. It was made of iron and had a special swinging section. This section could open up to let boats travel along the river. At that time, smaller commercial boats used this part of the Kalamazoo River.
The first iron pieces for the bridge arrived in February 1879. The entire bridge was finished later that same year.
Changes Over Time
The bridge was repaired in 1899, and one of its sections was replaced. As time went on, fewer and fewer boats used the river. This meant there was less need to open the bridge. The last time the bridge was opened by hand was around 1920.
In 1975, a new bridge was built on 58th Street, which was only about half a mile away. The New Richmond Swing Bridge was closed in 1976 because it was getting old and worn out. However, over the next few years, it was fixed up and rebuilt. It reopened for cars in 1979.
The bridge was closed to cars again in 1997 because of safety concerns. Then, in 2004, it was restored once more. Today, the bridge is used by people walking or biking. It's part of the New Richmond Park, helping people cross the river to enjoy the parkland on both sides.
What Does It Look Like?
The New Richmond Swing Bridge is quite long, stretching about 422 feet (129 meters). It has four main sections, plus eight shorter sections leading up to it.
The four main parts include a special swinging section that is 89 feet (27 meters) long. This part is a "Warren pony truss" design, which means it has a specific pattern of metal beams. There are also two other 70-foot (21-meter) long sections on either side of the swinging part. An additional 51-foot (15.5-meter) long section was repaired in 1899.
On the south side, two shorter sections, each about 24 feet (7.3 meters) long, slope up to meet the bridge. These rest on concrete supports. On the north side, there are six even shorter steel sections, each between 12 and 16 feet (3.7 to 4.9 meters) long. These also connect to the bridge using concrete supports.
Images for kids
-
Swing Pivot (still in use by request)
-
Historical marker
