Monroe Street Bridge

The city of Marshall has made a name for itself as having lots of historic houses. This bridge, along with the Marshall Avenue Bridge, are also significant historic attractions for the city as extremely rare examples of highway stone arch bridge construction in Michigan. A one span structure, it was constructed in 1891. The photo shown above showcases the eastern side of the bridge, which is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, the western side of the bridge has been covered with concrete, severely impacting the beauty and historic integrity of the bridge. The 1951 reconstruction date in the National Bridge Inventory likely refers to when this alteration took place. This concrete could be removed as part of a restoration, as a similar concrete removal project was done with the Marshall Avenue Bridge when it was restored. Fortunately, the keystone with date and builder name cast in was retained, and it credits Mumaw and Briege as the builders. Structurally, the bridge is in good condition, although the northeast part of the abutment has deteriorated where water is allowed to drain onto it. The bridge is posted at a 21-26-31 ton weight limit, which is enough for the residential traffic that this bridge serves.