Ten Curves Road–Manistique River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ten Curves Road–Manistique River Bridge
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Side wall of bridge
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ten Curves Rd. over Manistique R., Germfask Township, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Built by | Harry Ericksen |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architectural style | through girder |
| Demolished | 2013 |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001538 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1999 |
The Ten Curves Road–Manistique River Bridge was a special bridge in Germfask Township, Michigan. It carried Ten Curves Road over the Manistique River. This bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 because of its unique design. Sadly, it was taken down in 2013.
History of the Ten Curves Bridge
The Michigan State Highway Department created special designs for large concrete bridges in 1921 and 1922. These bridges had a unique curved shape. The very first bridge of this kind was built in Tecumseh in 1922. It was 90 feet long.
Another early bridge of this type was the one in Germfask. It was also 90 feet long and was built in 1923. This bridge was part of building a road called M-98. This road connected Germfask to Luce County.
Harry Erickson, a builder from Manistique, was hired to construct the bridge. He finished building it in 1923. The cost was about $26,190.81. The road that used to be M-98 is now a local county road. The bridge stayed mostly the same until it was taken down.
What the Bridge Looked Like
The Ten Curves Road–Manistique River Bridge was made of two large, curved concrete sections. These sections rested on concrete supports. The part of the bridge where cars drove was 22.3 feet wide. The total width of the bridge was 25.3 feet.
Inside the bridge, there were twelve concrete beams. These beams were built right into the bridge deck. The sides of the bridge had five small, arched openings. There were also guardrails at each end to keep people safe. Before the bridge was taken down, its concrete walls showed signs of wear. However, the bridge was still strong and safe to use.
