Old M-95 Bridge

Information and Findings From Michigan Historic Sites Online

Narrative Description

Located about two miles south of the village of Witch Lake, this graceful concrete arch bridge spans the Michigamme River on an abandoned segment of M-95. The crossing is situated immediately west of the current alignment of the highway, immediately north of the Dickinson County line. The structure is comprised of two filled spandrel arches, with elliptically shaped, continuous arch rings. These 60-foot arches spring from massive concrete abutments and a center pier with bullnosed cutwaters on the upstream (east) side. The cambered, earthen deck is bounded on both sides by solid concrete guardrailds with incised rectangular panels. The date "1910" is inscribed on one of the guardrails. Now situated on a private road, the Michigamme River Bridge is in unaltered, though deteriorating condition.

Statement of Significance

Before the standardization of bridge design by the state highway department, county and township road commissions were individually responsible for local bridge design and construction. Most of the vehicular structures built during this period employed either steel truss or timber stringer superstructure; concrete spans, generally restricted to urban areas, were seldom built at rural crossings. Marquette County was notable exception to this trend. During the 1910s, at least three concrete arch bridges were built: over the Dead River in Marquette, over the Michigamme River in Republic and this span over the Michigamme. Built in 1910, probably for the Marquette County Road Commission, it is a gracefully configured example of early concrete construction. As such, the Michigamme River Bridge is technologically and historically significant for its representation of pre-MSHD concrete bridge design. Although modest in its design and dimensions, it is an important early transportation-related resource.