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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge | Swing (Truss) | Grosse Ile Parkway | Wayne County, MI | Grosse Ile | Trenton Channel (Detroit River) |
There are two bridges, both historic swing truss bridges, that provide motorists with access to Grosse Ile. The other bridge is the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge, which is privately owned and, obviously, costs money to cross. This bridge is owned by the Wayne County Road Commission, and does not cost anything to cross. As a result, the bridge is often referred to as the Free Bridge. As can be expected, this bridge is far more busy than the toll bridge. Getting portal views of this bridge proved challenging, as a matter of fact.
This bridge is an impressive 1932 swing camelback through truss bridge with a Pratt configuration. 1930s truss bridges are extremely rare in Michigan, and so the massive members and two-lane nature are quite an unusual sight in Michigan. Extensive v-lacing and lattice is present on members and bracing. Vehicle guardrails are lattice also, and are unmodified. Pedestrian railings are Michigan State Highway Department standard railings, which were commonly seen on the 1930s truss bridges when they were built, and they are also unmodified. The bridge in New Boston also has this standard plan railing. The bridge has a bunch of deck plate girder approaches at each end. The deck of the bridge is metal grating, including on the approach spans. Four plaques, standard MSHD design, are present on the bridge. When I got home and looked at my photos, I realized that all the plaques were not identical. The two plaques I took photos of had different contractors listed, for the different portions of the bridge that were built.
MDOT lists this bridge as having been a railroad bridge originally. More information about the railroading past of Grosse Ile can be found here at the historic society's page.
Swing bridges are a rare find these days. In addition to brutal road commissions tearing truss bridges down, movable bridges are also attacked by those in charge of the waterways, and swing bridges are often cited as not providing enough width for boats to pass. The fact that this, and the toll bridge, survive, serving both water and road traffic, in excellent condition is a miracle.
