|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| 6th Street Bridge | Truss | Sixth Street | Kent County, MI | Grand Rapids | Grand River |
A quarter of a century ago, this bridge was slated for replacement, and people got together and fought the plans and instead this bridge was restored. This was back in a time when even less interest was placed on historic bridges. The first statewide historic bridge inventory had not been taken. Many of the closed truss bridges featured on this website were probably still open to traffic. The fact that this bridge was actively saved from demolition so many years ago is a miracle. The people of Grand Rapids deserve to be thanked for seeing the value of this wondrous structure. The bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This is Michigan's longest Pratt truss bridge, and one of the oldest metal bridges as well. It is bridges like this that make me wonder what is wrong with the people over in Pennsylvania who are planning the demolition of the great Hickory Bridge, a bridge of similar age and size, 25 years after people saved the 6th Street Bridge.
The Sixth Street Bridge, with its long 535 foot span and restored condition, is a fitting tribute to its builder, the Massillon Bridge Company of Massillon Ohio. Constructed in 1886, this bridge is made of wrought iron. A major modification occurred when the western truss span was shortened after a canal was removed. As a result, this bridge has an unusual appearance when viewed from a distance... it looks more like a three span truss with a short through approach span. Still, this modification adds to the uniqueness of the bridge. One set of the vertical members appears to have been reused when the truss was shortened, as there is a v-laced brace running from the western endpost of the short span to the bottom chord. As such, the short span has only five panels, while the other spans have ten panels. The bridge is a pin connected Pratt through truss. The portal bracing is ornate, and is composed of two latticed sections connected by rods in an "x" shape. The plaques do not remain on the bridge, and look like they might have been on the portal bracing. V-lacing is present on vertical members and under the top chord. Round finials are present at each end of the bridge. Original guardrails remain on the sidewalk, and are very beautiful, and were clearly designed with some decorative purpose in mind. Guardrails for the cars are wooden and are not original. The deck appears to be wood with a layer of asphalt on top. This deck looks to be deteriorating, and may need to be replaced in the future years. The paint on the bridge was dark green, and looked fairly recently repainted. I could find no rust on the bridge.
This bridge is a perfect example of the sort of treatment that all truss bridges should be receiving. Restored in its original location, this bridge continues to serve its original purpose of carrying vehicular traffic.
