Oelke Road Bridge

This Bridge is in Danger!

 This bridge is larger than the other Pratt half-hip pin connected pony trusses that remain in Western Monroe county. It is also older, with an 1899 construction date given by the Michigan Historic Bridge Inventory. While the date is slightly older than some of the other pony trusses in Monroe County, the bridge is quite different and older looking. Compare this bridge to the Kimpton Road Bridge. It is possible the date is incorrect in the inventory also. Oelke Road Bridge has lighter weight vertical members, which are an unusual design. These odd verticals are v-laced. The bridge also differs in that it has pipe guardrails rather than lattice. Pipe guardrail appears to have been a common type of railing on rural truss bridges, but very few examples of it remain, due to the fact most have been replaced with modern railings. This bridge is also larger than the other Monroe County pony trusses, with four panels. The bridge retains a wooden deck. It has been closed to traffic for many years, as it is a quite a bit overgrown. My winter visit to this bridge yielded better side views.