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St. Charles Road Bridge

St. Charles Road Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: Winter 2006, March 15, 2009, and November 13, 2021

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and Videos
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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
St. Charles Road Over Pine River
Location
Rural: Gratiot County, Michigan: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1925 By Builder/Contractor: Unknown and Engineer/Design: Michigan State Highway Department
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
85.0 Feet (25.9 Meters)
Structure Length
90.0 Feet (27.4 Meters)
Roadway Width
20 Feet (6.1 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
29200016000B020

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

Learn about Michigan's Unique Concrete Camelback Bridges

The St. Charles Road Bridge is a rare example of a 90 foot plan concrete camelback bridge in decent condition. The 90 foot plan was the largest size that was designated by MSHD in its collection of standard plans.

Among Gratiot County's three curved chord through girder bridges, the Lincoln Road Bridge was the only one to appear on MDOT's Historic Bridges website. This is apparently because of its older construction date. Indeed that bridge is significant as one of the first examples of its type to be built, and is one of the oldest remaining today. But it is worth noting that the structure type was only built for about a decade. Even the last girder to be built in Michigan was under ten years newer than the Lincoln Road bridge. With perhaps only a few dozen of this structure type remaining, and that number decreasing, all of these bridges are significant, including the St. Charles Road Bridge and the Grant Road Bridge. Getting Gratiot County to preserve all three of their concrete girder bridges might prove difficult. Perhaps they might agree to preserve one of them however. If this was the case, logic would initially seem to suggest that the Lincoln Road Bridge should be that one, as it was determined to have the most historic significance. However, it may be pertinent, to suggest that the St. Charles Road Bridge might be the way to go. The difference of historic important between a handful or years, versus the structural quality of the actual structure suggest that the St. Charles Road Bridge is more important today. Restoring the St. Charles Road Bridge would be less costly, and because less concrete patching would be needed on its comparatively pristine surface, it would retain a greater degree of historic integrity. It is quite unfortunate, but visually, there is very little left of the Lincoln Road Bridge to preserve. The damage has already been done for the most part. On the other hand, if funding worked more effectively in Michigan, repairs would be less costly that demolition and replacement, and then it would be sensible to restore all three of Gratiot County's girder bridges!


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos

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Photo Galleries and Videos: St. Charles Road Bridge

 

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2009 Overview Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview photos, taken March 15, 2009. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2009 Overview Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview photos, taken March 15, 2009. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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View Photo Gallery

Winter 2006 Bridge Photo-Documentation

A collection of overview and detail photos, taken Winter 2006. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original Size photos and Mobile Optimized photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

Additional Unorganized Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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View Photo Gallery

Additional Unorganized Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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Maps and Links: St. Charles Road Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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