Sixth Street Bridge (Grand Rapids, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sixth Street Bridge |
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Sixth Street Bridge in 2011
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| Coordinates | 42°58′36″N 85°40′26″W / 42.9767°N 85.674°W |
| Carries | Automobiles |
| Crosses | Grand River |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 536 feet (163 m) |
| Number of spans | 4 |
| History | |
| Designer | Massillon Bridge Company |
| Constructed by | Massillon Bridge Company |
| Construction cost | $31,000 |
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Sixth Street Bridge
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 Location in Michigan
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| Built | 1886 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001030 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1976 |
The Sixth Street Bridge is a very old and important bridge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It crosses the Grand River. This bridge is special because it is made of wrought iron, a strong type of metal. It has four main sections, called spans.
The Sixth Street Bridge is recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1886, it is the longest and oldest metal truss bridge in the entire state of Michigan.
Contents
History of the Sixth Street Bridge
How the Bridge Was Built
The Sixth Street Bridge was built in 1886. A company from Ohio called the Massillon Bridge Company designed and constructed it. The total cost to build this bridge was $31,000.
In 1921, a part of the bridge was changed. The section on the western side was made shorter. This happened because a canal next to the river was filled in.
Saving the Historic Bridge
In 1975, there was a plan to tear down the bridge. But many people in the community wanted to save it. Their efforts worked, and the bridge was protected.
Because it was so important, the bridge received special recognition. On June 18, 1976, it became a Michigan State Historic Site. Soon after, on August 13, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A special sign, called an informational marker, was put up on April 6, 1981, to tell people about its history. The bridge is also listed on the MDOT's list of historic bridges.
Bridge in Movies and Renovations
In May 2009, the bridge was closed for a short time. This was so scenes for a movie called Caught in the Crossfire could be filmed there.
The bridge got a big makeover in 2012. This renovation cost a lot of money, with $1.8 million from a federal grant. The Downtown Development Authority also helped with $472,000. Before this work, people said the bridge felt "creaky" and "bumpy" when they drove over it.
The renovation included painting and fixing the sidewalks in April 2012. This allowed people to still walk across the bridge. It briefly opened on May 12 for a running event called the Fifth Third River Bank Run. Then, on May 14, the bridge closed completely. Workers replaced the old wood and asphalt with new steel and concrete. The project was finished in August 2012.
Design of the Sixth Street Bridge
The Sixth Street Bridge is 536 feet (163 m) long. It has four main sections, each built with a special design called a Pratt truss. These trusses are made from strong wrought iron.
The road on the bridge is 19 feet (5.8 m) wide, which allows for two lanes of traffic. On each side of the road, there is a 6-foot wide (1.8 m) sidewalk. These sidewalks have decorative railings that look nice. The parts of the bridge that support it, called piers and abutments, are made from stone. This stone came from the local Grand River area.
The Sixth Street Bridge is special because it is the longest and oldest metal truss bridge in Michigan.
