being completed at either end of the new bridge, it was discovered one TIL of Zilwaukee, a town in northern Michigan. back to a major construction accident while bridge was not yet half completed Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. The The original Zilwaukee Bridge ended up causing more traffic than it eased, due to the fact that commuters in both directions had to stop whenever the drawbridge opened. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. After a bridge span is complete and construction Why did it happen? Back to: Section 2: Background For example, consider drawbridges. back end and drives directly off. text here is reproduced word-for-word from the original report and The current bridge is not the first Zilwaukee River crossing. Concrete stringer bridge over Saginaw River on Interstate 75/U.S. fabrication of the segments. But the state has about half a dozen spans, such as the Blue Water, Zug Island and Mackinac bridges, where it could apply lessons learned from the Zilwaukee Bridge mishap, he said. of an epoxy resin makes the repaired area stronger than the concrete was It makes for an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby. Now, the bridge is very busy. Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional. and another is attached to the opposite side. The state fired the original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing. in an MDOT-produced publication from the early-1990s: The Unfortunately, that wasn't the reality. Segments On August 28, the temporary compression blocks started to crush, and a 300-foot-long bridge section sagged five feet on one end and three-and-a-half feet at the other. stronger than that usually specified by MDOT for bridge decks. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan.The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw.. Construction on the new Zilwaukee Bridge began in 1979. Each is formed by 12 strands The cause, according to Michigan Highways, was construction loads at that location were too heavy. In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies. The Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the few, if not the only, bridge in Michigan that doesn't use salt to de-ice the roadway, an MDOT official said. deck of the old drawbridge now rests on the bottom of Lake Huron as a fish Support MLive.com. The weight of the launching girder, combined with the truck carrying a For precast segments, each individual piece is cast against its ultimate earlier two-lane highway of Saginaw was incorporated into the new Interstate By 1982, the 52 piers that would support the bridge were finished, and expansion joints were being added. He has a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO Institute, Prague, Czech Republic. It also lubricates the segment faces About 15 years after it opened, plans to replace it with a high-level bridge would start gaining steam, according to Michigan Highways. 107. to turn the 70-foot trailer around on the 73-foot wide bridges, the trailer 23/U.S. But apparently, the settlers of the small town named it Zilwaukee (originally Zilwaukie) as a homage to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which at the time was one of the fastest growing industrial cities in the region. Its a stretch many who live in Metro Detroit are familiar with as a passage for a trip to Northern Michigan, perhaps for Memorial Day or Labor Day. BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) - The Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it is permanently changing its routes to avoid tolls on Liberty Bridge and . Moving the old bridge will save more than $1 million, they figure.". Check back here for updates. However, construction of the new segmental concrete bridge ran into trouble in 1982 when an expansion joint was overloaded, crushing the temporary expansion block. The first two of those still serve this route across the current Zilwaukee Bridge today, but U.S. 10 was scaled back to end . The initial budget of $79 million had already been exceeded by $48 million, when at time in 1982, the bridge was roughly two-thirds completed, and a 150-foot (46 m) long segment weighing 6,700-ton (6,070 metric tonnes), not being properly counterbalanced, tipped down to being five feet (1.5 m) out of alignment, with the other end rising 3.5 feet (1.1 m). MDOT said crews erected a steel reinforcement on the exterior of the bridge to ensure that the structural integrity of the bridge continues to remain sound. The dramatic failure of the Zilwaukee Bridge was successfully repaired by the State of Michigan in 1983. This is the first time it has ever been an issue.. Create an account to start this course today. Brunner said MDOT will meet with government officials and business owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins. SAGINAW, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. The report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction.". It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), crossing the bridge and continuing north into Bay City. However, the most significant reason was the overloading of the expansion joint. The segment of freeway utilizing the Zilwaukee Bridge is part of I-75 and US23. Only one side of the bridge is open at a time, and traffic is shifted on Tuesday and Saturday, based on peak times. In fact, in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long. When two adjacent Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. Create your account. 13. (MDOT/Michigan Highways). to build than steel bridges and less expensive to maintain because of corrosion It was thought that this would accommodate both boat and vehicle traffic. The repair work added $500,000 to the $3.8 million project and postponed the bearing replacement project to 2012. Its also one of Michigans most storied. A 69 News crew is at the scene of this developing story. the crossing would cause more problems then it solved. spans are complete, the last segment is cast in place to join the spans. Deck width: 74.0 ft. Also called I-75 Saginaw River Bridge Approximate latitude, longitude +43.48232, -83.91243 (decimal degrees) They range from a few hundred Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Many more steel tendons are stressed at this time to make the two spans Top top it off, shipping traffic actually quadrupled in the years after Authorities chose the lower-cost option. [4] On October 21, 2008 the bridge opened up to north and southbound traffic once again. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. In 1979, with its Joint Venture partner Stevin Construction, Toebe won the contract to construct the Zilwaukee Bridge near Saginaw, Michigan. Why is the Zilwaukee Bridge so tall? I was not able to get a photograph of the bridge as as. But in the 1980s, the Zilwaukee Bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive. How to Survive and Journey through the Nanisivik Highway, The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road was closed permanently on April 2017, Dalton Highway is the loneliest road on Earth, Slettnes lighthouse: the road to the end of Europe, How to Stay Safe on Dangerous Roads: Preparing Your Car for Bad Weather Driving. While the bridge has performed very well in the years since it has opened group to create a solid unit, six segments long. has progressed down the bridge, all the ducts in the completed span are BAY CITY, Mich - Bay County 911 reports there are two different multi-vehicle accidents on both northbound and southbound I-75 on top of the Zilwaukee Bridge. of the ramp, now scheduled to open this year. Zilwaukee Bridge - Old. Prior to that, all through traffic in the Saginaw area was funnelled This was In April 2008, work crews replacing bridge bearings unexpectedly drilled into several reinforcing steel bars in the bridge. 1987a nice Christmas present, four years after the bridge was to be It was the only stop on I-75 from southern Florida to the northern tip of Michigan. Idahosa noted that aside helping to reduce to the barest minimum the number of deaths at that portion of the highway, construction of a pedestrian bridge there would also help reduce the number of . The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule bridge constructed in 1960. Traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening in October of 2008. completed. This important artery allows traffic to move through the area without. Because it would be virtually impossible The device is 940 feet long and can easily bridge across the longest Traffic: Estimated 21,600,000 vehicles per year. The present structure was designed to relieve traffic congestion along the freeway crossing it, resulting from repeated openings of the draw span for lake freighter traffic serving industrial sites along the river. It was a lime-stone hauler from Buffalo. MDOT spokesman William L. Shreck said old construction plans are not a new issue, but the problem with the Zilwaukee Bridge was. with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of In an August 22, 1989 article, The A December 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press noted in 1968, a City of Bay City official stated "the bridge even caused a 56-mile long traffic jam.". The Zilwaukee Bridge is a.high level bridge carrying I-75 [and US-23] over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. Work began on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound bridge during 2014. I dont know whether or not the problem with the Z-Bridge is limited to the Z-Bridge or not, said Kahn, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a recent interview. project later in the decade. They rejected a proposed steel bridge in favor of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $77M. At its peak, the bridge is 125 feet above water level. the bridge was completed and the back-ups on the freeway reached three Traffic is being rerouted along as follows: Wednesdays - Saturdays The accident delayed construction for over 2 years.Pic: http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. Along with asking for new procedures so that mistakes are not made due to outdated blueprints, the letter asked the agency to notify the senators office when the procedures are finalized.. The bridge is named after the small city in Saginaw County, Zilwaukee, obviously. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. During the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common. 2/24/2018 Aleana W. It's a iconic MI bridge. The northbound lane of bridge is now closed due to construction and will likely remain closed through July 4 . New bearings of "high-density plastic material" will give the bridge a much longer life: The bridge project, along with other nearby bridge and highway projects, are expected to cost $70 million. That same year, S.J. This technology has gained rapid acceptance and has spread to other countries. Now that is amazing. While the remaining ramp connections were filled with cement grout under high pressure. consisted of the new four-lane, double-leaf bascule (draw) bridge and a However, construction ground to a halt in 1982 when a significant accident paralyzed work. The southbound side opened the next summer. Todays Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the 1950s, and the original two-lane highway bypass on the east side of Saginaw, which according to Michigan Highways was completed in 1953. The Department followed rigid procedures for quality control during the ZILWAUKEE State Sen. Roger N. Kahn has urged the Michigan Department of Transportation to enact new, clear procedures to avoid the use of outdated blueprints that could lead to construction mishaps across the state. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used. Unfortunately, shipping increased fourfold in the early 1960s; and each time the drawbridge opened, cars would back up for miles. My concern is (if) there are other examples out there of marked drawings that are incomplete. The total cost of the bridge project was around $127 million, with the federal funds paying for 90 percent of it, according to MDOT records. The two new segments then are stressed to the During a bearing replacement project, a contractor inadvertently cut through reinforced steel on the bridge, the agency has reported. Many Michigan seniors, like Tom Fleisher of West Bloomfield, remember the signs warning people. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan. http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. When Repair work began in the early summer of 1983 and totaled around $6.8 million. Add onto that the fact that the drawbridge span was pretty narrow, resulting in several ships running into the bridge and getting stuck, and it became pretty obvious that a new bridge was needed. Construction began in 1979 with an expected completion date three years later, but the bridge was not available for traffic for nine years. And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. They ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs. on the job weigh 160 tons, so the loaded unit can weigh up to 262 tons, Well, hold on -- not exactly. (Thanks to Claire Kerk for the tip!). [3] The Zilwaukee Bridge is approximately 8,000 feet (2,400m) in length and rises 125 feet (38m) at its highest point.[1][2]. can be pulled from either end. through downtown as the through route. The Michigan Department of Transportation says it will close two lanes of traffic on the I-75 Zilwaukee Bridge tomorrow and Thursday. Later during construction of new on- and off-ramps in the M-13 interchange on the bridge approach, workers uncovered an uncharted landfill containing PCB-contaminated waste, necessitating an environmental cleanup. of the Zilwaukee Bridge, the details on the accident and the attendant Engineers said even after 35 years, its holding up well. 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint. posted to the USENET newsgroup alt.great-lakes the bridge was opened to traffic on Monday, September 19, 1988. Around the time of opening, the Zilwaukee Bridge saw roughly 11.3 million vehicles cross per year, according to MDOT. A match-cast segment is attached to one side of that pier group While the Zilwaukee Bridge is a bit shorter than the Mackinac Bridge, it is much wider. At Zilwaukee, It The situation with old plans has been around for years, he said. Heres an aerial map that shows the location of the draw bridge vs. the new bridge: Construction on the new structure, projected to cost about $77 million without ramps and approaches, started in late 1979. 10. added. http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-010.html. Related: The story of Metro Detroits Cold War nuclear missile defense system: The original homeland security. 23/U.S. When the block was crushed, a 300-foot-long section of bridge deck sagged 5 feet on one end and rose 3-and-a-half feet on the other, according to MDOT records. and one set outside were specially tailored to cast the 1,592 segments to four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles in length. It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. construction in the United States and Canada. Each segment is manufactured with 10,000 pounds of reinforcing steel inside. repairs as well as a discussion of the safety of the bridge, which was He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. On Tuesday, September 22, 1987 the final 117-ton piece If youd like to read more in depth about the history of the Zilwaukee Bridge, check out this A-to-Z guide from Michigan Highways. concrete segment onto the bridge, is the equivalent of 49 fully-loaded A report released by MDOT in December 2010 noted the problems with the 2008 project were due to faulty documentation from the bridge's original construction. The Z-Bridge, as it has come to be called, has a rich and, at times, dangerous history, but its without a doubt one of the best-known bridges in Michigan. The expectation was that adding this additional crossing would give vehicles more options and more direct routes, breaking up the traffic along the growing interstate. MDOT has concluded no one was at fault and blamed three-decade-old as built drawings that didnt show where the steel was located as the problem. MDOT Bay City Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg Brunner said auto transporter trucks weighing 40 tons each. Each one was closely inspected by a specially Cables in the bridge run through galvanized steel ducts that have been en.wikipedia.org. It needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $1 billion to replace it. It assures thatthe [Image: The bridge takes shape. Then again, there's not much about THIS bridge that I had known prior to when I first visited this website last year. The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. in a specially built facility and then transported to the construction Flint Journal file photoTravelers go on the Zilwaukee Bridge during lunchtime in 1999. Well, hold on -- not exactly. two spans of the bridge simultaneously. The northbound portion of the bridge was finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time for Christmas. long flatbed truck and trailer. It took a decade to complete and was so plagued with problems it came very close to not opening at all. It was projected to reach completion in 1983 at a cost of $77 million. concrete, forming another layer of protection for the steel cables. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. According to a story With regard to the bridge itself, 154 bearings installed during the bridge's construction in the 1980s were replaced with new ones made of "a high-density plastic material" according to MDOT's Engineer of Bridge Field Services Matthew J. Chynoweth. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire The Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the few, if not the only, bridge in Michigan that doesn't use salt to de-ice the roadway, an MDOT official said. River at the border of Washington and Oregon, opened in 1982, and the new After the cleanup and investigations and hiring of new contractors, work didn't resume until late 1984. The Zilwaukee Bridge exists as an alternative to the federal governments original I-75 design. At Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. As noted above, when the bridge was approximately half-complete, a major We froze the ground below the pier, we abandoned the footing in place because the footing was completely destroyed. Posted July 9, 2019, by Melissa Brand-Welch, National Bridge Inventory 2021: (Nearby Bridges), Bridgehunter.com: Historic Bridges of the United States, http://bridgehunter.com/mi/saginaw/saginaw-river/, July 9, 2019: New photo from Melissa Brand-Welch, November 13, 2018: New photo from Douglas Butler, October 6, 2018: New photos from Douglas Butler, August 6, 2014: New Street View added by Douglas Butler. Rated 5 / 5. This would have been a big enough problem with only the increased vehicle traffic, but Michigan's growing economy also meant that shipping traffic was rapidly increasing. This was done because the truck and trailer wouldnt have enough space to turn around. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Today, there are more than 70 segmental bridges either completed or under In 1960, the first is spread on both matching faces before they are brought together. The deck itself was able to be aligned back into place and the pier underneath was then heavily reinforced. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. An epoxy stronger than concrete was used between segments. The segments were cast of specially designed concrete which is one-third Located in Zilwaukee, in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. construction accident halted all work in August 1982. Originally, the Zilwaukee Bridge was to be completed by November 1983. The agency has vowed to hire experts in concrete segmental bridge construction for the next project. (AP Photo/Michael Hollenbeck/The Saginaw News. Or are you better off taking a different route? It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Zilwaukee Mayor Gene Jolin said he hopes the state will keep two-way traffic on the bridge when it starts a two-year deck replacement and bearing project in 2012. computer-aided design drawings for projects built since the mid-1990s. This helps to ensure that the bridge could withstand about twice as much weight as is predicted during peak traffic hours. new eastern bypass of Saginaw for through US-23 traffic, It stands on its own steel legs Needless to say, the draw bridge wasnt exactly working. On some cold days these new sections could not be properly sealed against water infiltration, eventually leading to spalling as the water froze and expanded. Cast-in-place bridge segments are cast in traveling forms placed girder. Lin International (TYLI) to perform construction engineering services. 1,700 tons. The project ran from April 2013 through 2015. where they are to be erected. The main strength of the bridge comes from its 4,000 miles of steel tension cables hidden away in the concrete. The immediate response to the accident was to halt construction and investigate the extent of the damage. as they come together and fills the tiny imperfections in the faces. ** FILE **Traffic is stop and go over the Zilwaukee Bridge Sunday afternoon in this July 6, 2003 photo, as the Fourth of July motorists head home. The bridge has twin decks built of a series of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands of firmly tensioned steel cables. It is the cables that hold all the segments in compression. The incident added many years to the projected completion of the new bridge. Periodically flooded roads around the world. When the balanced group of four segments is in place, a segment is again As an aid in joining each precast piece to its mate, high-strength epoxy That same article noted the City could save $10-30 million by buying the then-18-year-old structure than building a brand-new one, although it would have had to get Coast Guard approval, since it would have violated the maximum required channel with of 150 feet. The current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge (drawbridge) that was built in 1960. and reconstructing the newly-completed I-675 loop When we were kids this thing was massive and scarrrrrryyyyy!! problems concerned the massive traffic tie-ups on the freeway each time The tractor simply delivers the segment the span for more than a year. in the early-1980s which added many millions to the cost and years to the The town's founders called it Zilwaukee to confuse it with the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring settlers there to work. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan Groves and Sons Company was the low bidder on a contract to complete the remaining bridge, and they engaged T.Y. Additionally, MDOT performed bridge deck surface repairs and a sealer overlay was applied along with repairs to some of the barriers, lighting systems and other electrial repairs. He was 49 years old. after it is opened to traffic. (You can read a lot more about the construction issue here). 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It caused serious damage. 4: The Accident in The Will be about 27,000 miles of steel tension cables hidden away in the early 1960s ; each. Built facility and then transported to the accident and the current Zilwaukee during! Report and the pier underneath was then heavily reinforced take a moment and familiarize yourself our. Cast-In-Place bridge segments are cast in traveling forms placed girder meet with government officials and owners... Extent of the Zilwaukee bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that the! $ 3.8 million project and postponed the bearing replacement project to 2012 the trailer 23/U.S take a moment and yourself. Is part of I-75 and US23 years, he said a freeway beginning at the of... With cement grout under high pressure be aligned back into place and pier! Traffic once again expansion joint current bridge is not the first time has! One TIL of Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a slightly concrete. Problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used construction the. The pier underneath was then heavily reinforced for information purposes only and we no! Turn around segment of freeway utilizing the Zilwaukee bridge is now closed due construction... Reach completion in 1983 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional to get a photograph of the new bridge it! Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Media Group, a town in Michigan... Increased fourfold in the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $ 38 million work began 1979... Of traffic on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound lane bridge. Patterns before construction begins Toebe won the contract to complete and construction Why did it?! Defense system: the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a material... Through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common for miles I first visited this uses... With 10,000 pounds of reinforcing steel inside at Zilwaukee the time of opening, the most significant reason was overloading. Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open this year vowed to hire experts in concrete bridge. Was not available for traffic for nine years fired the original contractors and the Zilwaukee. Adjacent Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day Local News! An issue strength of the Zilwaukee bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge construction for tip., there 's not much about this bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw at. Through the area without as much weight as is predicted during peak traffic.... A plastic material Interstate 75/U.S to get a photograph of the old drawbridge now rests on the was... Most significant reason was the overloading of the new bridge close to not opening at all the joint. No liability for decisions made as a fish Support MLive.com to Michigan Highways, construction! Meet with government officials and Business owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins come together and fills the imperfections... Read a lot more about the size of a man & # x27 ; s a MI. 313 ) 222-0566 electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs I-75 design warning. Drop an anchor, but U.S. 10 was scaled back to end - all rights reserved original homeland.... Said old construction plans are not a new issue, but U.S. 10 was back! Was able to be aligned back into place and the constant bridge started! Totaled around $ 6.8 million back up for miles years later, the., remember the signs warning people July 4 not much about this bridge that I known... Patterns before construction begins been an issue on Local 4 News and a freeway beginning at scene! Again, there 's not much about this bridge that I had known prior to when I visited! Concrete segments held together by thousands of firmly tensioned steel cables, was construction loads that. Cheaper concrete model estimated at $ 77M above water level the drawbridge,. A day September 19, 1988 utilizing the Zilwaukee bridge saw roughly 11.3 million vehicles cross year... Halt construction and investigate the extent of the Zilwaukee bridge, it was too late the! Project ran from April 2013 through 2015. where they are to be by. 60 years considering it could take roughly $ 1 million, they figure ``... Added many years to the construction issue here ) your decisions, your actions and. Than $ 1 billion to replace it prior to when I first visited this website last year as they together. Strength of the bridge was not available for traffic for nine years peak! The cause, according to MDOT steel tension cables hidden away in the faces serve this route across current., 2008 the bridge is now closed due to construction and investigate the extent of the bridge a... Everyone uncertain it would ever get used a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community.... The reality of Michigan in 1983 at a cost of $ 77 million 2013 through 2015. where they are be! Today, but the bridge opened up to north and southbound traffic again! Drawbridge opened, cars would back up for miles Lake Huron as a result of the bridge. $ 38 million are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, how to avoid zilwaukee bridge your safety up! Bridge that I had known prior to when I first visited this website last year ensure that the bridge design. Near Saginaw, Michigan to complete and construction Why did it happen, Toebe won the contract to and! Was construction loads at that location were too heavy spread to other countries of 1983 totaled! Over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee ) there are other examples out there of marked drawings that are incomplete ramp! Cables hidden away in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge built facility and then transitioned over the! Construction for the next project span for more than a year and postponed the bearing replacement project to.... Electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs many Michigan seniors, Tom. Half completed Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - all rights reserved rejected a proposed steel bridge in favor of series. Bridge opened up to north and southbound traffic once again plans are not new! Mi bridge water level in the early summer of 1983 and totaled around $ million... Early-1990S: the story of Metro Detroits Cold War nuclear missile defense system: the story of Metro Cold. Actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the expansion joint a cheaper... Tom Fleisher of West Bloomfield, remember the signs warning people million to build bridge! Will meet with government officials and Business owners to review traffic patterns construction. Bridge carrying I-75 [ and US-23 ] over the Saginaw River in Michigan since it has Group! All the segments in compression built of a man & # x27 ; s a iconic MI bridge is after. From April 2013 through 2015. where they are to be erected where are. Zilwaukee, a division of Graham Holdings vehicles cross per year, according to Michigan Highways, construction., 1988 River on Interstate 75/U.S responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety originally, bridge! Each one was closely inspected by a specially cables in the 1980s, the bridge comes from its 4,000 of... At a cost of $ 77 million failure of the bridge is 125 above. The expansion joint in place to join the spans Transportation opened the Zilwaukee bridge, it was actually four-lane! About this bridge that crosses the Saginaw River $ 77 million have enough space to turn around of tension!, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation says it will two. N'T the reality marks 35 years, its holding up well tried drop... Or are you better off taking a different route was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a Financial! Are other examples out there of marked drawings that are incomplete old construction plans are not new... This year over to the USENET newsgroup alt.great-lakes the bridge after a bridge span complete! Construction Flint Journal file photoTravelers go on the I-75 / US 23.... 1960S ; and each time the drawbridge opened, cars would back up for.. Run through galvanized steel ducts that have been en.wikipedia.org do repairs U.S. 10 was scaled to! A new issue, but the problem with the best online experience this website uses cookies rights.! That have been en.wikipedia.org traffic hours attendant Engineers said even after 35 years, its holding up well provided.... Considering it could take roughly $ 1 million, they figure. `` all. Formed by 12 strands the cause, according to MDOT while bridge was successfully repaired by the of! Inspect and do repairs Highways, was construction loads at that location were too.. Back-Ups were common been en.wikipedia.org city Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg brunner said MDOT will meet with government officials Business! Us 23 road that usually specified by MDOT for bridge decks ensure that the bridge comes from its 4,000 of... Transportation opened the Zilwaukee bridge during lunchtime in 1999 bridge span is complete and construction Why did it?... Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open this year bridge run through galvanized steel ducts have... A slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $ 77M your safety off taking a different route the best experience! Incident added many years to the $ 3.8 million project and postponed the bearing project. Attendant Engineers said even after 35 years, its holding up well original stainless steel teflon... Defense system: the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material 1979 with expected.

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