View Information About HSR Ratings
This beautiful little truss bridge is a structure that with a rehabilitation could likely continue to serve the vehicular traffic which uses the dead end two-track road it serves. The bridge is significant as a rare documented example of a bridge built by the Continental Bridge Company. Very few examples of this company's work remain, particularly in Michigan. The bridge retains excellent historic integrity and the metal of the truss is in fair condition, and could easily be restored.
In a region of Michigan with very few metal truss bridges, each of Alger County's remaining truss bridges should be preserved. Instead however, the county road commission has applied for demolition and replacement funding through MDOT's Local Bridge Program. The Local Bridge Program was touted as an improvement to the former MDOT Critical Bridge Program because the Local Bridge Program would also fund repair and rehabilitation, rather than just replacement. In theory this is excellent and is exactly how transportation funding could be reformed. However the program has not been successful in the view of HistoricBridges.org. First, unlike the Critical Bridge Program, the Local Bridge Program does not use any federal money, so historic bridges can be replaced without conducting Section 106. As such, there is no requirement for a county to consider alternatives to the demolition of a historic bridge, nor are they required to mitigate the adverse effect should they choose to demolish a historic bridge. Second, HistoricBridges.org has seen no evidence that the Local Bridge Program's ability to fund rehabilitation and repair is actually being used, particularly with historic bridges. There does not appear to be any incentive to the county to apply for rehabilitation or repair funding versus replacement funds. As a result, the counties just simply apply for demolition and replacement like they always did. After all, in their view, if they can get a brand new expensive bridge just as easily as repairing the existing bridge, they see no reason to go for repair funds. Worse, although MDOT occasionally shows some backbone and questions the requests of counties to replace bridges that should instead be rehabilitated, more often than not, they rubber stamp the request and the bridge gets demolished and replaced.
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.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
