Planter Road–Jackson Creek Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge
|
|
Bridge as seen from bank
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Planter Rd. over Jackson Creek, Wakefield Township, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Dept. |
| Architectural style | Through girder bridge |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001515 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1999 |
The Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge is a special bridge in Wakefield Township, Michigan. It crosses over Jackson Creek on Planter Road. This bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it is an important historical site in the United States.
What is the Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge?
The Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge is a type of bridge called a steel plate girder bridge. It is about 52 feet (16 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. Plate girder bridges use large steel plates to form strong beams. These beams support the bridge deck. This type of bridge was common in states like Pennsylvania and New York. However, it is quite rare to find one in Michigan.
The main part of the bridge has two long steel beams. These beams are called "through girders." They are made from steel plates with strong metal angles and stiffeners attached. The top part of the bridge, where cars drive, is called the deck. It is supported by smaller steel beams called I-beams. Concrete is laid over these I-beams to create the road surface. The bridge was built to be useful and strong. It does not have any fancy decorations. The bridge is still in its original condition. It has been kept very well over the years.
History of the Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge
This bridge was built in 1923. Its purpose was to help people get to the new community of Planter. The design for this bridge came from the Michigan State Highway Department. They first started using this design around 1907 or 1908. However, by 1923, they had mostly stopped using it. This makes the Planter Road – Jackson Creek Bridge very special. It is one of the last bridges of its kind left in Michigan. Even today, cars and trucks still drive across it.
