Second Street–Gun River Bridge Explained

Second Street–Gun River Bridge
Nearest City:Hooper, Michigan
Coordinates:42.5156°N -85.5628°W
Built:1926
Builder:Yost Brothers
Michigan State Highway Department
Architecture:Concrete girder
Added:December 17, 1999
Area:less than
Refnum:99001573

The Second Street–Gun River Bridge was a bridge in Martin Township, Michigan, USA. It was demolished in 2012. The bridge was significant as a rare example of a bridge with a plaque stating that it had been built as a result of Michigan's Covert Act. It was also one of the few remaining examples of a camelback highway bridge in Michigan.

History

The bridge was built in 1926 as part of the Covert Act, which required the state, upon request of the appropriate locality, to construct all trunk-line roads. The Allegan County Road Commission hired the Yost Brothers of Decatur, Indiana, to construct the bridge. The bridge is believed to have been based on a standard Michigan State Highway Department plan for a curved-chord concrete girder bridge.[1] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The bridge was demolished in 2012 as part of a road improvement project.[2] [3]

Description

The Second Street–Gun River Bridge consisted of a single concrete through-girder span, 48 feet in length. The substructure contained concrete abutments with both T-shaped and flared. The bridge's concrete girders had curved tops with six cast window-like recesses. The deck was 29.3 feet wide, with a 22 feet wide roadway covered with blacktop. The corner posts had squared caps and bases, with four curved concrete brackets at the corner of each girder.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2nd. St. / Gun River. Michigan Dept. of Transportation.
  2. News: McGrath. Sheila. Allegan County Road Commission schedules summer projects. January 2, 2013. January 2, 2012.
  3. Web site: 2nd Street Bridge South . HistoricBridges.org . June 19, 2017.