Old M-95–Michigamme River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old M-95–Michigamme River Bridge
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old M-95 over Michigamme River, Republic Township, Michigan |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Marquette County Road Commission |
| Architectural style | Luten Arch Bridge |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001531 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1999 |
The Old M-95–Michigamme River Bridge is a historic bridge located in Republic Township, Michigan. It crosses the Michigamme River on what used to be part of the M-95 highway. This bridge is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Contents
Building the Michigamme Bridge
Early Bridge Designs
A long time ago, in the early 1900s, there were no standard rules for building bridges in Michigan. Each local road commission designed bridges for their own area. Most bridges built for cars and trucks were made of steel or wood.
Marquette County's Unique Bridges
However, in Marquette County, things were a bit different. The local road commission decided to build bridges using concrete arches. They built at least three of these concrete bridges around 1910. One was over the Dead River, another over the Michigamme River, and this very bridge over the Michigamme River.
Why This Bridge is Important
The Old M-95–Michigamme River Bridge was built in 1910. Even though it's not huge or fancy, it's very important. It shows how bridges were designed locally before the state created standard plans. It's a cool example of old engineering!
What the Bridge Looks Like
Bridge Size and Location
The Old M-95–Michigamme River Bridge is about 120 feet (37 m) long. Its main section stretches 60 feet (18 m) across the river. It crosses the Michigamme River on an old road that used to be M-95. This old road is now private, and the bridge is just west of the current highway.
How the Bridge is Built
The bridge has two strong arches that are filled in. These arches are shaped like smooth curves. They rest on concrete supports on each side of the river. The bridge deck, which is the part you drive on, is made of earth and curves slightly upwards. On each side of the deck, there are concrete railings to keep people safe.
