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| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date and Builder/Engineer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Blue Bridge
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Bridge | Railroad (Converted To Pedestrian Walk) Over Grand River | Grand Rapids: Kent County, Michigan | Metal 5 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed | 1892 By Builder/Contractor: Unknown |
| Technical Facts |
| Main Span Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 125 Feet (38.1 Meters) | 575 Feet (172.3 Meters) | 24 Feet (7.3 Meters) | 4 | 1 |
On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, a public meeting will be held to discuss the upcoming rehabilitation of this historic bridge. The focus of this meeting will be to explain options for paint color and aesthetic lighting on the bridge, and to get public input on what colors and lighting schemes are of interest to the community. Click here to download a flyer with details about the meeting.
This bridge is among the longest truss bridges in Michigan,
and it consists of four truss spans and a deck plate girder approach at the west
end. There are extremely few multi-span metal truss bridges in Michigan, and
Grand Rapids has more of these than any other city in Michigan. This bridge is
an excellent example of a pin connected railroad
through truss bridge. Each of the four spans is five panels and follows the
Pratt truss configuration. There is a lot of v-lacing on this bridge for a railroad bridge,
with it being present on vertical members, sway bracing, and under the upper
chord, which adds to the geometric beautiful of the bridge. The bridge sits on
attractive stone abutments and piers. Based on the bridge's width, it was built
to carry two tracks. The deck has been redone as
concrete, and metal pole railings are present on the bridge. The bridge is
painted an attractive sky blue.
This bridge serves it new purpose as a pedestrian crossing well, and many people use the bridge during the course of a day, as it connects downtown Grand Rapids to the various attractions on the other side of the river such as Grand Valley State University and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Also, the wide deck of this bridge allowed for benches to be installed on the bridge for people to enjoy the scenery. At night this bridge features decorative lighting, along with the other bridges in downtown over the Grand River. On the 4th of July, this bridge is the hottest spot in town to be since it offers a great view of the fireworks. However, watching the fireworks from Fulton Street instead allows you to enjoy the fireworks with the truss bridge in the foreground. Photos showing just that are available in the photo gallery. There are also photos showing just how many people are on the bridge during that celebration. If you are looking for photos showing a historic truss bridge in use, look no further!
In 2009, this bridge continued to be a positive asset for
Grand Rapids when it became a venue for the display of art as a part of the
first ever ArtPrize contest, a largely successful and popular event which bring
beautiful art to the downtown area. Of the over 1200 artists who participated,
three of the top ten winning artists were artists who displayed their art at and
on the historic Grand Rapids Railroad Bridge. One piece of art, a giant table,
was placed right on top of the trusses of the bridge. The use of the Grand
Rapids Railroad Bridge as part of the ArtPrize contest, as well as the success
of those art projects who chose to display on the historic bridge, suggests the
high level of value a historic metal truss bridge can have for a city if
restored and used in the way Grand Rapids has.
This is an excellent example of how truss bridges that have ceased their original function might be reused effectively rather than blown up and thrown in the dumpster. The reuse of this bridge has not only preserved a beautiful historic landmark, but has helped provide a functional and convenient crossing for non-motorized traffic.
Click on a thumbnail or gallery name below to visit that particular photo gallery. If videos are available, click on a video name to view and/or download that particular video.
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Pre-2011 Photo-Documentation
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A collection of overview and detail photos. These photos were taken from 2006 through 2010 and include photos of fireworks over the bridge, as well as general night photos of the bridge. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original / Full Sized photos and Mobile/Smartphone Optimized (Reduced Size) photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer by clicking the link below.
Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer |
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ArtPrize 2009 Displays
Original / Full Size Photos |
A gallery of the ArtPrize 2009 displays shown on the bridge. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution. |
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ArtPrize 2009 Displays
Mobile Optimized Gallery |
A gallery of the ArtPrize 2009 displays shown on the bridge. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem
(dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer
download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below.
Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer |
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2011 Photo-Documentation
Original / Full Size Photos |
A collection of overview and detail photos. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution. |
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2011 Photo-Documentation
Mobile Optimized Gallery |
A collection of overview and detail photos. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem
(dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer
download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below.
Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer |
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