Above: Bridge in its original location on Gratiot Road.
| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fry Road Bridge
Old Gratiot Road Bridge | Fry Road Over Misteguay Creek | Rural: Saginaw County, Michigan | Metal Riveted Through Girder, Stationary | 1908 By: Central States Bridge Company of Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Date | Main Span Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1957 | 91 Feet (27.7 Meters) | 153 Feet (46.6 Meters) | 24 Feet (7.3 Meters) | 1 | 2 |
This bridge's main plate girder span dates to 1908 and originally spanned the Tittabawassee River as a two span through plate girder on Gratiot Road (M-46). By 1957 the Gratiot Road Bridge had been replaced, and one of the spans from the 1908 bridge was relocated here to Fry Road. In addition at Fry Road, two steel stringer approach spans, one at each end, were constructed as well. The main span looks a bit odd if you observe it closely, since no additional work was done to the plate girder span, and one end of the bridge has the traditional curved end that is often seen on plate girders, while the other end of the span has a sharp corner and vertical ends, because that end was the center of the previous bridge and as such was right next to the other span.
The plate girder span is significant as a rare surviving example of a highway through plate girder in Michigan. Michigan did not appear to build as many highway through plate girders as some other states. The plate girder span is also significant as a rare surviving example of a bridge built by the Central States Bridge Company in Michigan. The company does not appear to have been prolific in Michigan. The plate girder span appears to retain excellent historic integrity, including a very large cast iron plaque. The bridge as a whole is significant as a unique relocation and reuse of a portion of a previous bridge. The overall bridge also retains excellent historic integrity, and is largely unaltered since its 1957 construction. Original R4 style railings, typical for 1957, are present on the approach spans. In addition, a 1957 Federal Aid Secondary Project plaque is present on each of the two approach spans.
