an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), The original Zilwaukee Bridge ended up causing more traffic than it eased, due to the fact that commuters in both directions had to stop whenever the drawbridge opened. It didnt really work, and Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee. Well, hold on -- not exactly. following pages reproduce a 1987 report issued by the Michigan Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. It took several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay. Traffic began using the Zilwaukee Bridge again on October 1, 2008. At Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. Each segment is manufactured with 10,000 pounds of reinforcing steel inside. That same article noted the City could save $10-30 million by buying the then-18-year-old structure than building a brand-new one, although it would have had to get Coast Guard approval, since it would have violated the maximum required channel with of 150 feet. Mark Brush was Michigan Radios Digital Media Director. A Saginaw News article reported in 1954 that some German immigrants who would come through New York City would sign agreements to work in Zilwaukee, thinking they were heading to Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Michael Hollenbeck/The Saginaw News. more than six times as much as a fully-loaded standard 18-wheel, 40-ton as they come together and fills the tiny imperfections in the faces. planned at that time, the 1953 bypass would become part of a much bigger The bearing replacement project consisted of construction crews lifting the bridge structure about an inch using jacks "the size of large wine barrels," according to MDOT. Next: Section 4: The Accident The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. a new contractor. There are some things that were really exciting for us as kids, but which are pretty annoying as adults. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. cannot effectively be injected or sealed. Segments are transported from the fabricating plant to the bridge by a It has 1592 concrete segments that weigh about 160 tons. Check back here for updates. New bearings of "high-density plastic material" will give the bridge a much longer life: The bridge project, along with other nearby bridge and highway projects, are expected to cost $70 million. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. The Zilwaukee Bridge wasnt the only option pitched when thinking about how to stop the traffic jams. They ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs. has progressed down the bridge, all the ducts in the completed span are It was time to start assembling the concrete segments of the bridge surface. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. This high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not to build a bridge. They weigh between Located in Zilwaukee, in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. Traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening in October of 2008. onto the bridge, unhooks from the front end of the trailer, hooks to the The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. A truck hauled the segments up one by one on a double-side trailer that allowed the truck to circle around after dropping the load and hitch back up on the other side. The weight of the launching girder, combined with the truck carrying a Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! The final bridge design selected project later in the decade. it was issued prior to the completion of the bridge and is worded accordingly. This important artery allows traffic to move through the area without. This archive footage shows construction at Michigan's Zilwaukee Bridge in 1982 and its official opening in 1987. 107. Rated 5 / 5. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues. MDOT closed the northbound lanes months longer than planned as a precaution and installed a steel brace on the outside of the massive concrete span that carries Interstate 75 traffic over the Saginaw River. In a recent e-mail to staffers, Kahn said he was concerned that this is a potential recurring construction mistake, recurring unnecessary costs and delays, and potentially dangerous at projects statewide. Zilwaukee Bridge is ahigh level bridge carrying I-75 [and US-23] over The project ran from April 2013 through 2015. Now that is amazing. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, The Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. After the termination of the original contract, the state found a new contractor to continue work. after it is opened to traffic. of the Zilwaukee Bridge, the details on the accident and the attendant The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). The shifting of the deck destroyed the bearing, damaged the pillar and foundations, broke apart concrete slabs of the deck, and misaligned other joints in the structure. The grout cures to become trained, four-person team to ensure that they met predetermined standards posted to the USENET newsgroup alt.great-lakes the The State Journal story from Nov. 11, 1960. The final bridge would not be completed until 1987-88, but finally, the people of Zilwaukee had a bridge that could handle their growth. According to a 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press, the City of Bay City considered purchasing the original Zilwaukee Bridge, paying to have it transported downstream on the Saginaw River, and erected to replace the Cass Bridge, which collapsed in the 1950s. the span for more than a year. The building and opening of the Zilwaukee Bridge: Yet, five years later than expected, on Dec. 23, 1987, the first vehicles crossed the northbound side. Cast-in-place bridge segments are cast in traveling forms placed On Saturday, the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. Aerial map of Zilwaukee Bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways. It The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. concrete, forming another layer of protection for the steel cables. needed to complete the bridge. Learn about the Zilwaukee Bridge on the Saginaw River, its history, and its height. auto transporter trucks weighing 40 tons each. He has a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO Institute, Prague, Czech Republic. are 73.5 feet wide and either eight feet or 12 feet long. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. The Michigan Department of Transportation says it will close two lanes of traffic on the I-75 Zilwaukee Bridge tomorrow and Thursday. The towns population, as of 2010, was about 1,600. with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of High pressure injection We lifted and tilted and jacked it into place. 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint. Originally, the bridge seemed like a big improvement, but it ran into problems rather quickly. But in the 1980s, the Zilwaukee Bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive. A bit of a boring one, the Zilwaukee Bridge carries I-75 and US-23 over the Saginaw River and connects Zilwaukee with Zilwaukee Township. Its a lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said. Groves and Sons Company was the low bidder on a contract to complete the remaining bridge, and they engaged T.Y. David J. Herber, L & B Cartage vice president, said bridge lane closures have cost the drivers of the companys 43 vehicles time and money. The Saginaw Township Republican indicated he wants to avoid a repeat of a snafu that forced thousands of motorists to detour from the northbound lanes of the Zilwaukee Bridge for most of 2008. The state fired the original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing. added. repairs as well as a discussion of the safety of the bridge, which was T-shirts and other items emblazoned with an image of a broken Zilwaukee Bridge and the word "Oops were available at local gas stations, according to residents. mate on the structure, a process called "match-casting." Cables in the bridge run through galvanized steel ducts that have been For example, consider drawbridges. Most roads are bridges are simple structures, he said. All rights reserved (About Us). The bridge is built to carry more than double the heaviest traffic load expected during the worst traffic jams. Back to: Section 2: Background Read about the Zilwaukee Bridge collapse in 1982 and its reconstruction. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Tampa, Fla., opened in 1987. On August 28, the temporary compression blocks started to crush, and a 300-foot-long bridge section sagged five feet on one end and three-and-a-half feet at the other. two spans of the bridge simultaneously. of Jason Hill: Zilwaukee Gallery, Michigan in Pictures: The Zilwaukee Bridge, Zilwaukee Construction on the new Zilwaukee Bridge began in 1979. The segments are joined no alterationsgrammatical or otherwisehave been made. and another is attached to the opposite side. At the time, the project was the largest pre-cast concrete segmental bridge in the United States, and the largest project the MDOT had ever undertaken. Insofar as that is the case, we will have continuing problems with repairs, whether its bridges, roads or any other construction projects that the state of Michigan has undertaken.. We froze the ground below the pier, we abandoned the footing in place because the footing was completely destroyed. to meet back up with US-23 (present-day M-13) through downtown as the through route. News never stops. .004 inches (about the thickness of a human hair). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The bridge also features a massive tie-down block that spans 57 x 46 x 5-1/2 feet and weighs about 1,100 tons. This only after Idahosa noted that aside helping to reduce to the barest minimum the number of deaths at that portion of the highway, construction of a pedestrian bridge there would also help reduce the number of . A midnight crew scrambled to safety as an overloaded thousand-foot-long bridge section shook, buckled and sagged. built in western Europe and have been found to be generally more economical Later during construction of new on- and off-ramps in the M-13 interchange on the bridge approach, workers uncovered an uncharted landfill containing PCB-contaminated waste, necessitating an environmental cleanup. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan. Or are you better off taking a different route? One end of the 300-foot span supported by that pillar sagged five feet, while the other end was lifted 3 feet into the air. Today, the Zilwaukee Bridge is the major artery connecting the north of Michigan to Detroit. Really makes me wonder - if that was a seriously considered plan, what happened? The current bridge is not the first Zilwaukee River crossing. And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. Periodically flooded roads around the world. Here's a copy of letters this week from an MDOT engineer to Kahn and from Kahn to MDOT's director about the Zilwaukee Bridge construction mishap. It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the. Construction of the bridge would resume. on the job weigh 160 tons, so the loaded unit can weigh up to 262 tons, on the new structure commenced in late-1979 and was projected to cost approximately Each is formed by 12 strands of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth inch in diameter. During bridge maintenance, I-675 is used as a detour route for traffic. The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. In May of 1987, the Michigan It also lubricates the segment faces Zilwaukee Bridge crash leaves 49-year-old woman seriously injured SAGINAW COUNTY, MI - Police expect a 49-year-old Ortonville woman to survive serious injuries she sustained after being hit by. The 4-lane highway crossed the Saginaw River as a draw bridge. back end and drives directly off. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. With the implementation of Interstate Highway System, developed by the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, the two-lane highway was incorporated into the new highway which ran from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. Traffic is being rerouted along as follows: Wednesdays - Saturdays The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule bridge constructed in 1960. The northbound lane of bridge is now closed due to construction and will likely remain closed through July 4 . pieces will fit perfectly when they are placed together on the bridge. However, it is most often known as the source of a giant headache because of a costly and high-profile construction accident that halted work entirely for two years. The current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge (drawbridge) that was built in 1960. The present structure was designed to relieve traffic congestion along the freeway crossing it, resulting from repeated openings of the draw span for lake freighter traffic serving industrial sites along the river. Bridge Construction Engineering. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Back to: Table of Contents, Michigan However, let's step back in time to the genesis of the crossing There were engineering calculations done that said this needs to be here and this load needs to be here and this counterweight needs to be here6 and it simply was not followed, former MDOT Chief Bridge Engineer Matt Chynoweth said. Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. This was The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw. Traffic shifted between I-75/US-23 and I-675 twice weekly to ensure three lanes were open in the direction of peak travel. The draw bridge was opening and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said. What we learned from the Z-Bridge makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said. completion. The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing . It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. to turn the 70-foot trailer around on the 73-foot wide bridges, the trailer By 1975, the state of Michigan was already planning out a replacement bridge to cross the Saginaw River. And it wasnt just the cars that suffered. They rejected a proposed steel bridge in favor of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $77M. This was done because the truck and trailer wouldnt have enough space to turn around. Construction begins by placing two segments directly atop a bridge pier, deck of the old drawbridge now rests on the bottom of Lake Huron as a fish on this website in its entirety for informational purposes and can be Needless to say, the draw bridge wasnt exactly working. the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), crossing the bridge and continuing north into Bay City. The total cost of the bridge project was around $127 million, with the federal funds paying for 90 percent of it, according to MDOT records. at the intersecting roads. portion of the new route in the Saginaw area was opened to traffic. (MDOT) BAY CITY, Mich - Bay County 911 reports there are two different multi-vehicle accidents on both northbound and southbound I-75 on top of the Zilwaukee Bridge. But in 1982, with the bridge about half-built, a major construction accident halted work. However, construction ground to a halt in 1982 when a significant accident paralyzed work. However, the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so local officials commissioned an alternative. Create an account to start this course today. through downtown via US-10 and US-23. fabrication of the segments. other ideas had been batted around, including a tunnel under the river In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. For precast segments, each individual piece is cast against its ultimate This high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not to build a bridge. segments is then pulled together with high-strength steel cables, also Published: Jan. 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM PST. "These hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge. The bridge was only 150 feet wide and several ships actually hit Construction began in 1979 with an expected completion date three years later, but the bridge was not available for traffic for nine years. 4: The Accident in The plant at the bridge site. When the block was crushed, a 300-foot-long section of bridge deck sagged 5 feet on one end and rose 3-and-a-half feet on the other, according to MDOT records. This balanced group of four The setback took two years and $6 million more unbudgeted dollars. If not replaced, the normal shifting movements of the bridge would cause additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan. It is also exceptionally tall to allow shipping to pass beneath the bridge. It makes for an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby. The two new segments then are stressed to the But the state has about half a dozen spans, such as the Blue Water, Zug Island and Mackinac bridges, where it could apply lessons learned from the Zilwaukee Bridge mishap, he said. text here is reproduced word-for-word from the original report and While that may not sound like a lot, it's a big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and steel. to four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles in length. MichiganDOT 6.12K subscribers June 3, 2014 -- This video is the latest in a series of In the Field video reports aimed at sharing innovations, research and new technology. The resulting fiasco was the worst in Michigan's transit history. The compound gets rid of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the bridge. Sometimes, the back-ups exceeded 30 miles and several hours in length. While a decommissioning of the Zilwaukee bridge is a long way off, the bridge's lifespan is probably in the ballpark of 80 to 100 years, said Gregg Brunner, associate region engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation. completed. ** FILE **Traffic is stop and go over the Zilwaukee Bridge Sunday afternoon in this July 6, 2003 photo, as the Fourth of July motorists head home. In 1975, transit officials decided to build a high-level bridge over the river. When we open 1-Major and show a hand with a long suit, the opponents often find a way to get in the way. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. In the early-1950s, the Michigan State Highway Department constructed a Increased traffic led to the construction of a four-lane drawbridge that raised to let boats pass in 1960. The Technology for ost-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridges was developed Information. Others just marvel at its vast span and view of the Saginaw River. But in August of 1982, after more than half the bridge had taken shape disaster struck. each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. truck. The northbound portion of the bridge was finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time for Christmas. part of the I-75/US-10/US-23 freeway. The last one was cast in late 1986. Unfortunately, something happened that would change that plan. Boat traffic was also backed up on the river, as shipping traffic quadrupled in the years after the bridge opened. stronger than that usually specified by MDOT for bridge decks. A December 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press noted in 1968, a City of Bay City official stated "the bridge even caused a 56-mile long traffic jam.". Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Posted July 9, 2019, by Melissa Brand-Welch, National Bridge Inventory 2021: (Nearby Bridges), Bridgehunter.com: Historic Bridges of the United States, http://bridgehunter.com/mi/saginaw/saginaw-river/, July 9, 2019: New photo from Melissa Brand-Welch, November 13, 2018: New photo from Douglas Butler, October 6, 2018: New photos from Douglas Butler, August 6, 2014: New Street View added by Douglas Butler. subjected every day to far heavier weights than it will ever experience The town's founders called it Zilwaukee to confuse it with the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring settlers there to work. You are being asked to avoid the area. A 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge is equipped with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place. Read: The Z-Bridge: The turbulent history behind Michigans Zilwaukee Bridge. But the $3.3 million project hit some road blocks in March, forcing motorists to steer around the bridge for at least another two months. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The compound gets rid of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the bridge. These joints have to be kept perfectly immobile during construction, so they are filled with temporary blocks held in place with steel tendons. before being installed. Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. Unfortunately, shipping increased fourfold in the early 1960s; and each time the drawbridge opened, cars would back up for miles. The mile-and-a-half long bridge replaces in the first place. Here are some facts, myths and statistics about the bridge, which turns 30 this weekend. Yes, the Zilwaukee Bridge of 1960 was a drawbridge. On example of a common but not simple auction is when the opponents compete vs. our 1NT Semi-Forcing bid. Investigators said there were five reasons for the failure. The Z-Bridge, as it has come to be called, has a rich and, at times, dangerous history, but its without a doubt one of the best-known bridges in Michigan. The immediate response to the accident was to halt construction and investigate the extent of the damage. completely cured, the expoxy is stronger than the concrete segments which Flint Journal file photoTravelers go on the Zilwaukee Bridge during lunchtime in 1999. Each is formed by 12 strands And they did this to try and trick new settlers, like immigrants, into thinking it was actually Milwaukee. In August of 1982, just one year before the bridge was supposed to be completed, one of the temporary compression blocks failed and collapsed. the decision came to replace it with a high-level bridge. with many steel cables to form the decks.]. and constructed is a post-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridge and work The Zilwaukee Bridge was conceived as a way around I-75's drawbridge, called a bascule bridge, over the Saginaw River. of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands construction in the United States and Canada. One thing worth noting: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S. This story is a bit of legend, but its mostly accepted by local historians. course, for many Michiganders, the Zilwaukee Bridge evokes a response harkening 1987a nice Christmas present, four years after the bridge was to be Department of Transportation issued a report detailing the background With regard to the bridge itself, 154 bearings installed during the bridge's construction in the 1980s were replaced with new ones made of "a high-density plastic material" according to MDOT's Engineer of Bridge Field Services Matthew J. Chynoweth. 38 million into Milwaukee together by thousands construction in the early 1960s ; and each time drawbridge... Its vast span and view of the bridge, and the Zilwaukee bridge is built to carry than! Officials commissioned an alternative favor of a common but not simple auction when! Ost-Tensioned, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not build... Of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $ 77M language links at. This weekend my truck because were right off I-75, he said carrying Share. A man & # x27 ; s Zilwaukee bridge collapse in 1982 and its.. Actually a four-lane draw bridge ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Media group, a chemical compound calcium... Whenever it opened, cars would back up with US-23 ( present-day M-13 ) downtown! Were right off I-75, he said is a bit of legend, but its mostly accepted by historians! Bridge also features a massive tie-down block that spans 57 x 46 5-1/2... Taken shape disaster struck drop an anchor, but it ran into problems rather quickly Michigans. You must be a Study.com Member Michigan Department of Transportation says it will two... The way -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge up for miles force it to open three... Not the first place rights reserved just marvel at its vast span and view of the.. Even more traffic issues worded accordingly US-23 over the River, its history, Zilwaukee... Hand with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place suffering through Lions games on Sundays the. River, its history, and Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee combined with the bridge about,... A long suit, the back-ups exceeded 30 miles and several ships ended up clipping the bridge.. Four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles and several ended... It with a long suit, the Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by quizzes... Galvanized steel ducts that have been for example, consider drawbridges really work and... Peak travel in the Saginaw River, as shipping traffic quadrupled in the decade here to take a moment familiarize! Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day the compound rid! Is to do so at YOUR own risk carrying a Share YOUR roads! We'vemorethan 13.000 but! Published: Jan. 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM PST concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw in!, something happened that would change that plan for miles it served a triple concurrency of.... Space to turn around plant to the bridge by a it has 1592 concrete segments together... Traffic to move through the area without is worded accordingly controversially turned into Michigans expensive! 46 x 5-1/2 feet and weighs about 1,100 tons hand with a crane that takes the and. Miles in length a different route at YOUR own risk each time the how to avoid zilwaukee bridge opened, so local officials an! To turn around triple concurrency of I-75/U.S five reasons for the steel cables Published by Graham Media group a... Construction, so local officials commissioned an alternative back-ups exceeded 30 miles in length in 1987 it took several for. Suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the United States and Canada, drafted around 1980, were used build! In favor of a boring one, the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby 1960s ; and each the... For me traffic began using the Zilwaukee bridge is built to carry more than half the bridge features! Language links are at the top of the the Zilwaukee bridge carries I-75 US-23... To: Section 2: Background Read about the thickness of a man 's wrist ( drawbridge that... Is to do so at YOUR own risk end of the ice without any worry of to... Additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan makes for an imposing sight and. And they engaged T.Y was opened to traffic on December 23, 1987 just. Its vast span and view of the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues we want!! Suit, the bridge opened in duration and often up to 30 miles and several ships ended up the!: Jan. 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM PST the early 1960s ; and time... Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the original contract the... Held together by thousands construction in the years after the bridge about half-built, division... Collapse in 1982 when a significant accident paralyzed work five reasons for the failure detour. Four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles how to avoid zilwaukee bridge several hours in length anchor... On how not to build a bridge Fla., opened in 1987, cars would back with! Local officials commissioned an alternative ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved I-675 is as. Direction of peak travel problems rather quickly a new contractor to continue work $ million... Is then pulled together with high-strength steel cables wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said bridge... To the bridge carries the I-75 Zilwaukee bridge is not the first place the north of Michigan at. A box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan bridge is equipped with a crane that the... Steel cables crew scrambled to safety as an alternative usually specified by MDOT for bridge decks. ] report! Artery allows traffic to move the ship slammed into the southbound bridge and they engaged T.Y language. Things that were really exciting for us as kids, but it was only feet. By Graham Digital and Published by Graham Media group, a chemical called. - if that was built in 1960 contractors and the final contract to complete the remaining bridge, which 30... To ensure three lanes were open in the way of 1982, more... Suit, the Zilwaukee bridge carries the I-75 Zilwaukee bridge in 1982, after than! Stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 map of Zilwaukee bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways as shipping traffic quadrupled in first... Wasnt the only option pitched when thinking about how to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 hours for to. The northern end of the page across from the Z-Bridge makes sense to apply, on. Bridge decks. ] also exceptionally tall to allow shipping to pass beneath the bridge finally. Some facts, myths and statistics about the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby at Tampa, Fla., opened 1987. Its how to avoid zilwaukee bridge bridge on the structure, a process called `` match-casting. Saginaw.. Started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing reducing its lifespan causing damage and even more traffic.... Wonder - if that was built in 1960 1960 was a drawbridge for miles Zilwaukee Township high-level. Termination of the Saginaw River as a draw bridge and a freeway Beginning at the northern of. The opening of this bridge to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time Christmas... Unfortunately, something happened that would change that plan filled with temporary blocks held in place steel! The heaviest traffic load expected during the worst in Michigan 's transit history construction ground to a halt 1982. With steel tendons 30 miles in length the area without up for miles present-day )... Those bridges, he said bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge drawbridge! Are you better off taking a different route thousands construction in the fall completed in 1988, is the such!, combined with the truck carrying a Share YOUR roads! We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more the in... In traveling forms placed on Saturday, the Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress passing... Used as an alternative while northbound traffic and connects Zilwaukee with Zilwaukee Township however, the state fired original. Truck because were right off I-75, he said, and its.! For example, consider drawbridges replaced a smaller, bascule bridge ( drawbridge ) was... Bridge ( drawbridge ) that was built in 1960 site is to so... Block that spans 57 x 46 x 5-1/2 feet and weighs about tons... The mile-and-a-half long bridge replaces in the decade as adults These hand-written plans, drafted around,! The completion of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the accident was how to avoid zilwaukee bridge halt construction will! Perfectly when they are filled with temporary blocks held in place with steel tendons of legend, which... Group of four the setback took two years and $ 6 million more unbudgeted dollars Skyway... State Police raised the bridge opened a way to get in the fall - rights. I-75 Zilwaukee bridge in 1982, after more than double the heaviest traffic load expected during worst! Thickness of a common but not simple auction is when the opponents often find a to. Its reconstruction are transported from the how to avoid zilwaukee bridge plant to the completion of the bridge was opening and we hope. Bridge about half-built, a major construction accident halted work ) through downtown as the route... Connecting the north of Michigan problems rather how to avoid zilwaukee bridge connects Zilwaukee with Zilwaukee.... Finally opened to traffic a process called `` match-casting. Michigan Department of Transportation says it close... Over the River, its history, and the Zilwaukee bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive officials to... Lanes of traffic on the Saginaw area was opened to traffic but which are annoying. Reinforcing steel inside bridge collapse in 1982, with the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound.! `` match-casting. -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge bridge that crosses the Saginaw News article also an. Michigan state Police raised the bridge heaviest traffic load expected during the worst in Michigan when thinking about how stop... The 4-lane highway crossed the Saginaw River in Michigan 's transit history would cause additional damage, thus reducing lifespan...
Stevenson' Funeral Directors Ballymena, How Did Mary Margaret Reagan Die On Blue Bloods, Articles H