HistoricBridges.org Menu: HistoricBridges.org Menu:


We Recommend:
Bach Steel - Experts at historic truss bridge restoration.

HistoricBridges.org: Bridge Browser

Fullerton Avenue Bridge

Fullerton Avenue Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: December 15, 2010

View Photos
and Videos
View Maps
and Links

Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Fullerton Avenue Over Southfield Freeway (M-39)
Location
Detroit: Wayne County, Michigan: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1963 By Builder/Contractor: Walter Toebe Company and Engineer/Design: Michigan State Highway Department
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
53.8 Feet (16.4 Meters)
Structure Length
167.0 Feet (50.9 Meters)
Roadway Width
44 Feet (13.41 Meters)
Spans
2 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
82182192000S160

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

This bridge has been altered, resulting in a severe loss of historic integrity and significance!

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

This bridge had the railings which made it noteworthy removed and replaced in 2011!

Southfield Freeway Bridges

In describing the history of Michigan's Signature R4 Railings, it is essential to discuss bridges on the Southfield Freeway. In 2010, a small group of Southfield Freeway overpasses were the only known surviving examples in Michigan of bridges containing an unusual variation of the R4 railing design, in which a shorter version of the R4 railings were mounted on top of a concrete parapet. With the youngest bridge on the Southfield Freeway that has these railings having been built in 1964, this R4 and parapet railing design appears to have been the final railing design that Michigan used R4 style railing panels on. No examples of bridges newer than 1964 are currently known to have been built with R4 railings on them, suggesting that 1964 may have been the final year that R4 railings were used. The R4 and parapet design seen on the Southfield Freeway overpasses seems to be suggestive of the transition to a railing design that Michigan used extensively in the 1960s and 1970s, called the tube and parapet railing, where a pipe was mounted on top of a concrete parapet as seen on the Wadhams Bridge. According to MDOT, the tube and parapet railing was first used in 1961, so there apparently was a small overlap where R4 railings were still being used, but the R4 railings were also available for bridges as well. The R4 and parapet railings seen on the Southfield Freeway Bridges were apparently something that was not commonly used nor adopted as a commonly used bridge standard. The lack of additional examples elsewhere in the state as well as the labeling of the railings in original bridge plans as "special bridge railing parapet type" seem to suggest this.

The Southfield Freeway Bridges as featured on HistoricBridges.org are not themselves very noteworthy on a technological or historical significance basis. They are a common bridge type, and having been built in the early 1960s are not very old and they do not pre-date the Interstate Highway System. However, the railings they contain are historically significant as an essential piece in documenting Michigan's bridge railing history. For this reason, these bridges appear on HistoricBridges.org.

All of the Southfield Freeway Bridges that retain the R4 and parapet railings are to have their railings and decks removed and replaced with modern railings. In a couple cases, complete demolition of the bridges will occur. The railings which will replace the historic ones are an extremely common type of railing used on modern bridges in urban settings in Michigan. The railing might be described as the descendent of the R4 and parapet (and the 1960s/1970s tube and parapet) railing since it consists of a concrete parapet with metal tube on top. However the so-called "aesthetic parapet tube" railing is downright plain and ugly compared to the historic R4 and parapet railings on the bridges. Why is the new railing described as "aesthetic?" Simply because the railing has a few simple horizontal lines on the parapet and the use of a metal tube lowers the height of barrier which can not be seen through enhancing the view from the roadway. That such meager attentions to the appearance of a railing qualify as "aesthetic" in the modern transportation world shows just how far removed modern bridges are from the concept of a "beautiful bridge." The aesthetic parapet tube is shown in the drawing to the right, taken from MDOT bridge plan sheets for the Southfield Freeway project.

For the Southfield Freeway bridges, HistoricBridges.org would have suggested a compromise where the aesthetic parapet tube railing could be redesigned to hold the existing R4 railing panels on top instead of the default metal tube. This would have increased railing safety while retaining part of the historic railing, and would have allowed the bridges to remain unique from other Detroit area overpasses. Unfortunately, MDOT did not pursue a creative solution like that. The only good news is that the plans for the bridge projects do call for the salvage and storage of the R4 railing panels. It is presumed that these railing panels will be added to the stockpile of R4 railings that MDOT has stored for historic preservation and context sensitive bridge projects.

About This Bridge

This bridge sits in the shadow of a massive I-96 interchange from the 1970s. This bridge is also located next to a railroad bridge that was built in the same year as this bridge and by the same contractor. The bridge has some uncommon design aspects. A stairway located at the northeast corner of the bridge leads down to the freeway where a small sidewalk is present to provide access to a neighborhood south of the railroad bridge and interchange. This stairway originally had R4 railings as well, but unfortunately they were removed and replaced at some date.

 The 2011 reconstruction project will remove the railing as part of a deck replacement. The plans also show that the sidewalk under the bridge will no longer exist, and the space will be used to widen the freeway shoulder.

Information About This Bridge From MDOT Bridge Plans

The existing structure is four spans consisting of 28" and 36" prestressed concrete I beams with an 8" reinforced concrete deck with a HMA [Hot Mix Asphalt] overlay. The bridge railing is concrete parapet with railings mounted on top of a brush block on the south side and mounted on the sidewalk on the north side. It was built in 1961, with 44'-0" clear roadway and 54'-9" fascia to fascia. It was designed for HS20-44 loading.

Divider

Photo Galleries and Videos: Fullerton Avenue Bridge

 

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

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

Divider

Maps and Links: Fullerton Avenue 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.

Additional Maps:

Google Maps

Google Streetview (If Available)

Bing Maps

OpenStreetMap

GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)

Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)

Apple Maps (Apple devices only)

MapQuest

HERE We Go Maps

ACME Mapper

Waze Map

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)


Divider
 
Home Top

Divider

About - Contact

© 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.

Admin Login

Divider