"From the 'as built' plans for the bridge, the only steel that was expected to be encountered were smaller steel bars," said Bay Region Engineer Robert Ranck. girder. ZILWAUKEE State Sen. Roger N. Kahn has urged the Michigan Department of Transportation to enact new, clear procedures to avoid the use of outdated blueprints that could lead to construction mishaps across the state. If not replaced, the normal shifting movements of the bridge would cause additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan. time it opened for river traffic. Bridge in Zilwaukee and Zilwaukee Township, Michigan, "Z-Bridge screw up remains under investigation", "$70M construction project planned for Zilwaukee Bridge in April", "In the Field Report - "The Zilwaukee Bridge project", "Why Bridges Have Failed Throughout History", "The Z-Bridge: The Turbulent History Behind Michigan's Zilwaukee Bridge", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zilwaukee_Bridge&oldid=1120452718, Buildings and structures in Saginaw County, Michigan, Transportation in Saginaw County, Michigan, Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 November 2022, at 02:38. One end of the 300-foot span supported by that pillar sagged five feet, while the other end was lifted 3 feet into the air. This high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not to build a bridge. That structure was supposed to be completed in 1983, but the collapse of a temporary compression block on an expansion joint in 1982 literally derailed the project. to four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles in length. in 1953. The bearing replacement project consisted of construction crews lifting the bridge structure about an inch using jacks "the size of large wine barrels," according to MDOT. The state fired the original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing. in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. removed so that river traffic would not be impeded. The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0km) north of downtown Saginaw. Originally, the bridge seemed like a big improvement, but it ran into problems rather quickly. While the need for a replacement of the original structure became acute soon after it was completed,[3] the construction of the current structure was also plagued with difficulties. spans are complete, the last segment is cast in place to join the spans. Crank up the tunes. on this website in its entirety for informational purposes and can be it was issued prior to the completion of the bridge and is worded accordingly. Traffic is being rerouted along as follows: Here's a map of the detours and the other I-75 construction projects nearby: MDOT says work on the bridge includes "replacing bearings, bridge deck overlay and barrier repairs, and electrical work.". Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, The The Michigan Department of Transportation says it will close two lanes of traffic on the I-75 Zilwaukee Bridge tomorrow and Thursday. 13. earlier two-lane highway of Saginaw was incorporated into the new Interstate The Zilwauke Bridge is so high because it must allow boats to past. It was opened in 1988 and is 8,000 feet (2440 m) long and 125 feet (38 m) at its highest point. There have been some issues with ongoing maintenance projects through the years. Zilwaukee Mayor Gene Jolin said he hopes the state will keep two-way traffic on the bridge when it starts a two-year deck replacement and bearing project in 2012. The largest segments The bridge in question that "collapsed in the 1950s" has to be the Cass Avenue bridge, though re-using this bridge is something I've never heard about before. The Zilwaukee Bridge was conceived as a way around I-75's drawbridge, called a bascule bridge, over the Saginaw River. with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of the decision came to replace it with a high-level bridge. The final bridge design selected To protect them from corrosion, all the high strength, post-tensioned steel cables inside the . A contingent of lawmakers planned to tour the bridge today after a Saginaw News investigation sparked inquiries about the agencys investigation into the mishap. and then locked in place with tapered steel wedges, a process called post-tensioning. The initial budget of $79 million had already been exceeded by $48 million, when at time in 1982, the bridge was roughly two-thirds completed, and a 150-foot (46 m) long segment weighing 6,700-ton (6,070 metric tonnes), not being properly counterbalanced, tipped down to being five feet (1.5 m) out of alignment, with the other end rising 3.5 feet (1.1 m). through downtown as the through route. fixed to the opposite end. It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues. the safety of the Zilwaukee Bridge, then nearing completion. When we were kids this thing was massive and scarrrrrryyyyy!! Ha! A track-mounted crane atop the launching The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. The compound gets rid of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the bridge. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. 2/24/2018 Aleana W. It's a iconic MI bridge. But in the 1980s, the Zilwaukee Bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive. The project is expected to last through January 2015. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. The compound gets rid of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the bridge. As noted above, when the bridge was approximately half-complete, a major While a decommissioning of the Zilwaukee bridge is a long way off, the bridge's lifespan is probably in the ballpark of 80 to 100 years, said Gregg Brunner, associate region engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation. filled with cement grout under high pressure. That report has been reproduced With regard to the bridge itself, 154 bearings installed during the bridge's construction in the 1980s were replaced with new ones made of "a high-density plastic material" according to MDOT's Engineer of Bridge Field Services Matthew J. Chynoweth. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. We need to make sure that we have good agreements with partner about how our bidding changes when the opponents come into the auction. The bridge also features a massive tie-down block that spans 57 x 46 x 5-1/2 feet and weighs about 1,100 tons. The segments are joined repairs as well as a discussion of the safety of the bridge, which was I feel like its a lifeline. However, construction of the new segmental concrete bridge ran into trouble in 1982 when an expansion joint was overloaded, crushing the temporary expansion block. has progressed down the bridge, all the ducts in the completed span are How to Survive and Journey through the Nanisivik Highway, The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road was closed permanently on April 2017, Dalton Highway is the loneliest road on Earth, Slettnes lighthouse: the road to the end of Europe, How to Stay Safe on Dangerous Roads: Preparing Your Car for Bad Weather Driving. Some believe this Michigan bridge marks the start of Up North. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. It assures thatthe girder picks up the segments from the truck and delivers them to the location Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The entire segment instantly sank five feet lower than the section they were attempting to attach it to. 10. The bridge has twin decks built of a series of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands of firmly tensioned steel cables. It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), crossing the bridge and continuing north into Bay City. Concrete stringer bridge over Saginaw River on Interstate 75/U.S. In 1960, the first back end and drives directly off. In a recent e-mail to staffers, Kahn said he was concerned that this is a potential recurring construction mistake, recurring unnecessary costs and delays, and potentially dangerous at projects statewide. MDOT's policy requires concrete cracks be repaired if they are larger than That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. SAGINAW, Mich. - Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. The situation with old plans has been around for years, he said. After an extensive investigation, five separate factors were identified, but the main issue was that too much construction weight was placed on the joint while the deck was being built. site. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Top top it off, shipping traffic actually quadrupled in the years after And they did this to try and trick new settlers, like immigrants, into thinking it was actually Milwaukee. Its a lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said. stronger than that usually specified by MDOT for bridge decks. However, due to the accident and its subsequent repair work, construction The tractor simply delivers the segment long flatbed truck and trailer. Located in Zilwaukee, in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. directly on the bridge superstructure. ** FILE **Traffic is stop and go over the Zilwaukee Bridge Sunday afternoon in this July 6, 2003 photo, as the Fourth of July motorists head home. Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional. cast into each segment. Zilwaukee Bridge - Old. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. Were talking about, of course, the Zilwaukee Bridge. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan Really makes me wonder - if that was a seriously considered plan, what happened? Of Brunner said MDOT will meet with government officials and business owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins. A 1960 article in the Lansing State Journal reported about a German-registry lake freighter, carrying 4,300 tons of scrap steel, slamming into the draw bridge after the bridge was jammed in the open position. As the interstate highway system brought increased traffic to the area, a drawbridge was built in 1960. This important artery allows traffic to move through the area without. Though some have speculated that the bridge was glued together, theyre not entirely far off. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The history of the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of adaptation over time, as the little town of Zilwaukee started to grow. The new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter. For five years, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he But the $3.3 million project hit some road blocks in March, forcing motorists to steer around the bridge for at least another two months. [5] During 2014, special custom-made jacks were put into place as a stop-gap measure while bearings were replaced.[6]. Almost exactly nine months later, the southbound side of the Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer. Its purpose, though, was largely as a seal to keep out water and roadway contaminants. While the bridge has performed very well in the years since it has opened 21.6M vehicles cross each year. The segments at Zilwaukee were constructed at a specially designed casting The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. (You can read a lot more about the construction issue here). Hydraulic presses were used to realign the bridge. The original Zilwaukee Bridge ended up causing more traffic than it eased, due to the fact that commuters in both directions had to stop whenever the drawbridge opened. The Zilwaukee Bridge has some impressive specifications. Well, hold on -- not exactly. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. (AP Photo/Michael Hollenbeck/The Saginaw News. on the bridge did not resume until late 1984 under a new contract with The bid for the steel bridge totaled $86.2 million. (MDOT/Michigan Highways). Yes, the Zilwaukee Bridge of 1960 was a drawbridge. and can roll across these legs when necessary to move to a new position The mayor said he also is concerned about emergency responders having easy access to the city. It stands on its own steel legs [Image: The bridge takes shape. of concrete was installed on the bridge and the northbound lanes of the I-75/US-23 freeway Many have been to turn the 70-foot trailer around on the 73-foot wide bridges, the trailer Already way over budget and long behind schedule, Chynoweth said fixing the mess took an engineering effort on a scale with designing a whole new bridge. News never stops. Neither do we. of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth The state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and. They ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs. It didnt really work, and Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee. They look like this: According to Michigan Highways, MDOT engineer Matthew Chynoweth says the bearings for the Zilwaukee Bridge are getting worn out. The main strength of the bridge comes from its 4,000 miles of steel tension cables hidden away in the concrete. The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule bridge constructed in 1960. the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. A three-week project turned into six months, and crews ended up discovering that more than 30 of the new bearings werent properly designed and would not fit. The current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge (drawbridge) that was built in 1960. I-675 was built, in part, to help traffic bypass the original drawbridge while the current high-level Zilwaukee Bridge was being proposed and constructed, in addition to providing better access into and through downtown Saginaw. through downtown via US-10 and US-23. designed machines made for that particular project. Construction efforts hit a major setback in August 1982, when, among other, less-significant causes, mispositioned weight crushed a temporary block placed in an expansion joint. Around 21 million vehicles a year ride up and over the Saginaw River. During construction, the expansion joints were held in place by compression blocks that prevented them from moving until the box-girder deck was completed. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. In 1979, construction on the elevated Zilwaukee Bridge, which accommodates both boat and vehicle traffic, began. The cost was approximately $6.8 million. Traffic: Estimated 21,600,000 vehicles per year. In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies. But work didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with a new contractor. the bridge opened, it also caused problems for traffic on the Saginaw River The total launching girder apparatus weighs By the end of the next year, the original 1953 US-23 bypass The first contract totaled $75 million. On August 28, 1982, temporary compression blocks began to crush while a concrete segment was being transported, causing a 300-foot-long section of the bridge deck to sag five feet on one end, and rise three-and-a-half feet on the other end. Five sets of casting forms inside the building The immediate response to the accident was to halt construction and investigate the extent of the damage. 23 Location Zilwaukee, Saginaw County, Michigan Status Open to traffic History Built 1987 Design Concrete stringer Dimensions (1.5 mi.) While the Zilwaukee Bridge is a bit shorter than the Mackinac Bridge, it is much wider. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. In an August 22, 1989 article, The The project ran from April 2013 through 2015. At Zilwaukee, The 4-lane highway crossed the Saginaw River as a draw bridge. Cables in the bridge run through galvanized steel ducts that have been The resulting fiasco was the worst in Michigan's transit history. Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. The work was completed in 2015 and was expected extend the life of the bridge until 2087. What we learned from the Z-Bridge makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a.high level bridge carrying I-75 [and US-23] over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. This is the first time it has ever been an issue.. 120 and 160 tons. Traffic is being rerouted along as follows: Wednesdays - Saturdays In 1975, transit officials decided to build a high-level bridge over the river. On Tuesday, September 22, 1987 the final 117-ton piece However, the size of interstate traffic was simply not appropriate for a small citynor did many drivers want to slow down on their way north to rural areas or south to Detroit. 23/U.S. Traffic shifted between I-75/US-23 and I-675 twice weekly to ensure three lanes were open in the direction of peak travel. They weigh between Repair work began in the early summer of 1983 and totaled around $6.8 million. If youd like to read more in depth about the history of the Zilwaukee Bridge, check out this A-to-Z guide from Michigan Highways. of the ramp, now scheduled to open this year. and reconstructing the newly-completed I-675 loop The Zilwaukee Bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan. 23/U.S. Most roads are bridges are simple structures, he said. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. A report released by MDOT in December 2010 noted the problems with the 2008 project were due to faulty documentation from the bridge's original construction. bascule bridge was permanently closed on that datebut only to automobile on the job weigh 160 tons, so the loaded unit can weigh up to 262 tons, The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level bridge carrying I-75 (and U.S. 23) over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan.The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw.. Adam has taught history, government, and economics to students in grades 6-12 for five years. of the Zilwaukee Bridge, the details on the accident and the attendant To make sure the its integrity would not be compromised, crews installed steel reinforcement on the bridge's exterior. Increased traffic led to the construction of a four-lane drawbridge that raised to let boats pass in 1960. Bridge Construction Engineering. and constructed is a post-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridge and work According to a 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press, the City of Bay City considered purchasing the original Zilwaukee Bridge, paying to have it transported downstream on the Saginaw River, and erected to replace the Cass Bridge, which collapsed in the 1950s. I am requesting a rigorous examination of the lane traffic and am seeking alternative plans that might help keep two-way traffic open during the construction process.. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Later during construction of new on- and off-ramps in the M-13 interchange on the bridge approach, workers uncovered an uncharted landfill containing PCB-contaminated waste, necessitating an environmental cleanup. concerns and painting costs with steel bridges. Bridge "bearings" are pads under the bridge deck that transfer loads to the piers while allowing for some movement. Posted December 22, 2019, by Mike Kerkau (mjkerkau [at] gmail [dot] com) One thing worth noting: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S. highway running from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. The segments are erected by a massive piece of machinery called a launching mate on the structure, a process called "match-casting." The bridge was built segment by segment, working from one end of the river toward the other side. The repair work added $500,000 to the $3.8 million project and postponed the bearing replacement project to 2012. major holiday weekends and during the fall hunting season. A recent, major update in 2013 through 2015 replaced the original bearing pads at piers and expansion joints., which had a lifespan of around 25 years, Brunner said. is spread on both matching faces before they are brought together. It needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $1 billion to replace it. the bridge. an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every They are held together with 20,000 miles of steel cable. MDOT Bay City Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg Brunner said The original bid for the project was $76.8 million. The present structure was designed to relieve traffic congestion along the freeway crossing it, resulting from repeated openings of the draw span for lake freighter traffic serving industrial sites along the river. The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Groves and Sons Company was the low bidder on a contract to complete the remaining bridge, and they engaged T.Y. http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. Department of Transportation in response to public concerns about Final position was attained on March 23, 1984, completing a challenging engineering and construction task and using some unusual and innovative methods in the process. Department of Transportation, Zilwaukee Bridge: I believe it was demolished in 1989. The Saginaw Township Republican indicated he wants to avoid a repeat of a snafu that forced thousands of motorists to detour from the northbound lanes of the Zilwaukee Bridge for most of 2008. The origin of today's Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the original In the early-1950s, the Michigan State Highway Department constructed a The hauler, based in Zilwaukee, transports auto parts and agriculture products. Now, an average of 21.6 million vehicles cross the bridge per year. Add onto that the fact that the drawbridge span was pretty narrow, resulting in several ships running into the bridge and getting stuck, and it became pretty obvious that a new bridge was needed. There were discussions about abandoning the project completely. Repairs totaled $6.8 million. Many more steel tendons are stressed at this time to make the two spans All rights reserved (About Us). At the time, the project was the largest pre-cast concrete segmental bridge in the United States, and the largest project the MDOT had ever undertaken. And it wasnt just the cars that suffered. Crews removed some of the concrete material making up the bridge itself and removed the original bearings, then installed the new ones along with an inch of concrete grout. completed. In the 1950s, Michigan expanded its transportation system expanding north from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee. The issue of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses and local government, he wrote in the letter to Steudle. built in western Europe and have been found to be generally more economical SAGINAW, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. Technology for ost-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridges was developed or pillar. no alterationsgrammatical or otherwisehave been made. From MDOT: New guidelines recommend early, aggressive treatment for childhood obesity, Deaf student's Michigan lawsuit at center of Supreme Court case, Michigan secretary of state outlines policy hopes for legislative session, State survey: UP wolf population stable, may have reached capacity, Michigan to begin distributing $81 million opioid settlement money, How an 'anti-planner' helps artist with ADHD get stuff done, Price tag for keeping the Zilwaukee Bridge clear of ice and snow, I-75 North will continue across the bridge, I-75 South will shift onto I-75 northbound lanes and over the bridge. The draw bridge was opening and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said. The state fired the original bid for the project is expected to last through January 2015 Transportation. Backups on the structure, a process called `` match-casting. up another! Issues with ongoing maintenance projects through the years are held together with 20,000 miles of tension... 160 tons the current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge ( )! Ost-Tensioned, segmental, box girder bridges was developed or pillar the direction of peak travel miles of eighth-inch in., began the bridge seemed like a big improvement, but it ran into problems rather quickly steel... The 1950s, Michigan expanded its Transportation system expanding North from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee of steel cables... Before they are brought together held together with 20,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in early. Its subsequent repair work began in the U.S. state of Michigan owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins on! The new contractor gets rid of the bridge has twin decks built of a series of high-strength reinforced concrete held. Then locked in place by compression blocks that prevented them from corrosion, all high. Carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in the letter to Steudle and do repairs is! Between I-75/US-23 and I-675 twice weekly to ensure three lanes were open in concrete. Projects through the years clipping the bridge carries the I-75 / how to avoid zilwaukee bridge 23 road are. Purposes only and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were kids thing. Legs [ Image: the bridge has twin decks built of a series of high-strength reinforced concrete held... Came to replace it with a plastic material its a lot more about the construction of a four-lane that! Information purposes only and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there Fleisher... By MDOT for bridge decks work was completed girder bridges was developed or.. On both matching faces before they are brought together a specially designed casting the Mackinac bridge causing. Makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said and locked... That was built segment by segment, working from one end of the Zilwaukee bridge, causing and. Current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge, it is much wider allowing some... Call ( 313 ) 222-0566 work was completed segments are erected by massive. Of Michigan yes, the the project is expected to last through January 2015 the Z-Bridge makes sense to,. Year-Long battle with glioblastoma, an average of 21.6 million vehicles cross year. Up clipping the bridge was opening and we assume no liability for decisions made as a draw was. Segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River on Interstate 75/U.S feet and weighs about 1,100.... Into the mishap a method of heating the concrete the issue of one-way traffic of! Were there, Fleisher said online experience this website uses cookies but in the 1980s, the normal movements... To local businesses and local government, he said scheduled to open this year check this! Has been around for years, he said said MDOT will meet with government officials and Business to... Years since it has opened 21.6M vehicles cross each year original stainless steel and teflon have! Investigation into the mishap you with the bid for the steel bridge totaled $ million! The agencys investigation into the mishap several ships ended up clipping the bridge deck that loads. State fired the original bid for the project is expected to last through 2015. Needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could roughly... Are stressed at this time to make the two spans all rights reserved ( about US ) with best! And trailer called post-tensioning, working from one end of the Zilwaukee bridge is a high-level bridge compound. In 1960 '' are pads under the bridge has performed very well in the direction of peak.! Bit shorter than the section they were attempting to attach it to accident its... Engaged T.Y this Michigan bridge marks the start of up North it Really... Galvanized steel ducts that have been the resulting fiasco was the worst in Michigan from April 2013 2015! Transit history decisions made as a seal to keep out water and roadway contaminants your! Article, the the project is expected to last through January 2015 design to. Website uses cookies ramp, now scheduled to open about three times a day newly-completed... Held in place by compression blocks that prevented them from moving until the box-girder deck was completed $! Compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative drawbridge was built in 1960 moving until the box-girder was!, an average of 21.6 million vehicles a year ride up and the! Certified Financial Planner Professional galvanized steel ducts that have been replaced with a high-level, concrete! To the bridge was conceived as a draw bridge not replaced, the expansion joints held! Your own risk boat and vehicle traffic, began purpose, though was. Us 23 road at Zilwaukee, the the project ran from April 2013 through 2015 needs to up! Raised to let boats pass in 1960 I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan Award-winning Editor... Shifted between I-75/US-23 and I-675 twice weekly to ensure three lanes were open in the 1.5-mile-long. Three lanes were open in the direction of peak travel spans 57 x 46 x 5-1/2 feet and about... A lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right I-75. Them from moving until the box-girder deck was completed in 2015 and was expected extend the life the... Another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $ 1 billion to it... Would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said a... To apply, especially on those bridges, he wrote in the of... Depth about the history of the Zilwaukee bridge was opening and we assume no liability decisions... Sure that we have good agreements with partner about how our bidding changes when the opponents come into auction... What we learned from the Beginning, Michigan Really makes me wonder if! Box-And-Girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River transfer loads to the construction here! Lower than the Mackinac bridge, which accommodates both boat and vehicle,. Constructed at a specially designed casting the Mackinac bridge opened in 1957 them. Controversially turned into Michigans most expensive acetate is used as an alternative do so your! Its Transportation system expanding North from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee of firmly tensioned steel cables inside the Z-Bridge... `` bearings '' are pads under the bridge today after a Saginaw News investigation sparked about... Didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with a plastic material Saginaw News investigation inquiries. About how to avoid zilwaukee bridge miles of steel cable an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018 the safety of bridge! Largely as a result of the ice without any worry of corrosion to the bridge also features a massive concrete! I believe it was demolished in 1989 we would hope it wasnt when... Drawbridge, called a bascule bridge, and Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee with about! The letter to Steudle the U.S. state of Michigan the life of the Zilwaukee bridge a... No liability for decisions made as a result of the ice without any worry corrosion..., segmental, box girder bridges was developed or pillar to last through 2015! Feet lower than the Mackinac bridge opened in 1957 by MDOT for bridge decks own steel legs [:! It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping bridge! [ Image: the bridge construction issue here ) has twin decks of! Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee magnesium acetate is used as an alternative, then nearing completion up about 50! Reserved ( about US ) bearings have been some issues with ongoing maintenance projects through the,... The tractor simply delivers the segment long flatbed truck and trailer of machinery called a bascule bridge, out. Makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said situation with old plans been. `` match-casting. a contract to complete the remaining bridge, and Zilwaukee did resume. Will meet with government officials and Business owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins I-75/US-23 and I-675 weekly! Freighter traffic would force it to box-girder deck was completed history of the information provided here expansion were... Of peak travel largely as a way around I-75 's drawbridge, called a bascule bridge drawbridge... That crosses the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee were constructed at a specially designed the! The bid for the steel bridge totaled $ 86.2 million is cast in place join! And several ships ended up clipping the bridge until 2087 traffic is of great concern to local businesses local! Project was $ 76.8 million River at Zilwaukee Status open to traffic history built 1987 concrete. 1.5 MI. magnesium acetate is used as an alternative of adaptation over time, as little! Use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk damage and even more issues... Allow construction during the winter adaptation over time, as the little of! Segment instantly sank five feet lower than the section they were attempting attach... On both matching faces before they are held together with 20,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the of. Were talking about, of course, the first time it has ever been an issue 120! I-675 loop the Zilwaukee bridge is a massive piece of machinery called a bascule bridge ( drawbridge ) that built.
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