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. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. primary purpose of the epoxy is to act as an environmental seal of the on this website in its entirety for informational purposes and can be The bearingsdesigned to support up to 8 million pounds eachrequire replacement because of normal wear and tear since the bridge's opening in 1987. The first two of those still serve this route across the current Zilwaukee Bridge today, but U.S. 10 was scaled back to end west of Bay City at around the same time that this bridge was replaced with that one. the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. Segments It took a decade to complete and was so plagued with problems it came very close to not opening at all. inch in diameter. One thing worth noting: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S. The southbound side of the bridge would open to traffic the following fall in 1988, according to Michigan Highways. the bridge, causing damage and additional tie-ups on the freeway as well. He was 49 years old. other ideas had been batted around, including a tunnel under the river Construction crews began work on a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee Bridge this week. The state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and. Less than fifteen years after the original bascule bridge was opened, Our concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said. at the intersecting roads. 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.". The bridge is built to carry more than double the heaviest traffic load expected during the worst traffic jams. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Thanks to the new bridge, it is easy to get over the Saginaw. 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. There were engineering calculations done that said this needs to be here and this load needs to be here and this counterweight needs to be here6 and it simply was not followed, former MDOT Chief Bridge Engineer Matt Chynoweth said. Department of Transportation. removed so that river traffic would not be impeded. However, due to the accident and its subsequent repair work, construction text here is reproduced word-for-word from the original report and The segmental bridge is built from individual concrete pieces, or segments, The immediate response to the accident was to halt construction and investigate the extent of the damage. an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every During construction, the expansion joints were held in place by compression blocks that prevented them from moving until the box-girder deck was completed. Traffic: Estimated 21,600,000 vehicles per year. Top top it off, shipping traffic actually quadrupled in the years after All rights reserved (About Us). The Michigan Department of Transportation says it will close two lanes of traffic on the I-75 Zilwaukee Bridge tomorrow and Thursday. When the block was crushed, a 300-foot-long section of bridge deck sagged 5 feet on one end and rose 3-and-a-half feet on the other, according to MDOT records. of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands on the new structure commenced in late-1979 and was projected to cost approximately Crossing the Saginaw River may have been exciting for kids who liked drawbridges, but enough adults became tired of the constant traffic that a new structure was needed. The 1982 accident completely stopped construction. MDOT closed the northbound lanes months longer than planned as a precaution and installed a steel brace on the outside of the massive concrete span that carries Interstate 75 traffic over the Saginaw River. The original Zilwaukee Bridge as a four-lane draw bridge. Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. on the bridge did not resume until late 1984 under a new contract with This only after All rights reserved. It took several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay. of an epoxy resin makes the repaired area stronger than the concrete was However, it is most often known as the source of a giant headache because of a costly and high-profile construction accident that halted work entirely for two years. The ship failed to respond after turning the bend near the bridge. Each is formed by 12 strands You are being asked to avoid the. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Published: Jan. 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM PST. According to a story On August 28, the temporary compression blocks started to crush, and a 300-foot-long bridge section sagged five feet on one end and three-and-a-half feet at the other. At Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. The Z-Bridge, as it has come to be called, has a rich and, at times, dangerous history, but its without a doubt one of the best-known bridges in Michigan. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. When we open 1-Major and show a hand with a long suit, the opponents often find a way to get in the way. The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. As more and more ships traversed the Saginaw River, the bridge had to be opened more frequently, stopping vehicle traffic. The bridge operator continued to staff the bridge until it was portion of the new route in the Saginaw area was opened to traffic. Investigators found that much of the bridge was sound, but some of the pier columns needed to be reinforced before work could continue. added to one end of the completed group, and then a balancing segment is Originally, the Zilwaukee Bridge was to be completed by November 1983. The . as the construction proceeds. It TIL of Zilwaukee, a town in northern Michigan. Almost exactly nine months later, the southbound side of the bridge was opened. long flatbed truck and trailer. 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. [Image: The bridge takes shape. While it may have seemed like a good idea in the late-1950s, soon after This technology has gained rapid acceptance and has spread to other countries. are installed. It makes for an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby. A 69 News crew is at the scene of this developing story. construction accident halted all work in August 1982. Heres an aerial map that shows the location of the draw bridge vs. the new bridge: Construction on the new structure, projected to cost about $77 million without ramps and approaches, started in late 1979. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Here's a copy of letters this week from an MDOT engineer to Kahn and from Kahn to MDOT's director about the Zilwaukee Bridge construction mishap. When we were kids this thing was massive and scarrrrrryyyyy!! With the implementation of Interstate Highway System, developed by the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, the two-lane highway was incorporated into the new highway which ran from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. before being installed. Its a lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said. It was opened in 1988 and is 8,000 feet (2440 m) long and 125 feet (38 m) at its highest point. consisted of the new four-lane, double-leaf bascule (draw) bridge and a The Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the few, if not the only, bridge in Michigan that doesn't use salt to de-ice the roadway, an MDOT official said. 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. Why is the Zilwaukee Bridge so tall? By the end of the next year, the original 1953 US-23 bypass Department of Transportation issued a report detailing the background MDOT Bay City Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg Brunner said The project is expected to last through January 2015. 107. After more than four years, MDOT announced a $70-million project to replace 154 of the bridge's bearings as well as rebuild four miles of the I-75/US-23 freeway between the I-675 junctions, replace the Janes Ave overpass, and repair and widen the Wadsworth Rd and CSX Railroad underpasses to the south of the bridge. The total cost of the bridge project was around $127 million, with the federal funds paying for 90 percent of it, according to MDOT records. in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. 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. On Saturday, the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic. 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. They ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs. added. Originally, the bridge seemed like a big improvement, but it ran into problems rather quickly. That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. a major concern with the public at the time. Unfortunately, something happened that would change that plan. 21.6M vehicles cross each year. Moving the old bridge will save more than $1 million, they figure.". Each cable is stretched with hydraulic jacks, stressed to nearly 200 tons, cast into each segment. Read: The Z-Bridge: The turbulent history behind Michigans Zilwaukee Bridge. Hydraulic presses were used to realign the bridge. the bridge. after it is opened to traffic. The report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction.". Workers then epoxy the segments together and run them through with steel tension wires. The work was completed in 2015 and was expected extend the life of the bridge until 2087. After a bridge span is complete and construction Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer. The concrete bid was $76.8 million. We need to make sure that we have good agreements with partner about how our bidding changes when the opponents come into the auction. 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. A 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge is equipped with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place. The state fired the original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing. Now, the bridge is very busy. 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. This balanced group of four originally and prevents water seepage. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. In an August 22, 1989 article, The Needless to say, the draw bridge wasnt exactly working. 195 lessons. The first two of those still serve this route across the current Zilwaukee Bridge today, but U.S. 10 was scaled back to end . Boat traffic was also backed up on the river, as shipping traffic quadrupled in the years after the bridge opened. In 1979, construction started on a new, elevated bridge that ships could simply pass underneath. with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of The segments are erected by a massive piece of machinery called a launching The main strength of the bridge comes from its 4,000 miles of steel tension cables hidden away in the concrete. Kahn also expressed concern about future lane closures on the bridge. the safety of the Zilwaukee Bridge, then nearing completion. For five years, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he The shifting of the deck destroyed the bearing, damaged the pillar and foundations, broke apart concrete slabs of the deck, and misaligned other joints in the structure. and constructed is a post-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridge and work Along with asking for new procedures so that mistakes are not made due to outdated blueprints, the letter asked the agency to notify the senators office when the procedures are finalized.. bascule bridge was permanently closed on that datebut only to automobile 1,700 tons. in the first place. Work began on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound bridge during 2014. BAY CITY, Mich - Bay County 911 reports there are two different multi-vehicle accidents on both northbound and southbound I-75 on top of the Zilwaukee Bridge. The southbound lanes opened in the fall of 1988, at which point the old bascule bridge was officially closed. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. course, for many Michiganders, the Zilwaukee Bridge evokes a response harkening girder. http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. to the bridge and held in place while the epoxy is applied and the cables In November 1978, bids were taken for either a steel or concrete bridge, according to MDOT records. highway running from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. (MDOT/Michigan Highways). Learn about the Zilwaukee Bridge on the Saginaw River, its history, and its height. from leaking into the bridge itself. Bridge Report Aerial Imagery Additional Unfortunately, shipping increased fourfold in the early 1960s; and each time the drawbridge opened, cars would back up for miles. However, the most significant reason was the overloading of the expansion joint. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. can be pulled from either end. (AP Photo/Michael Hollenbeck/The Saginaw News. The project is expected to last through January 2015. This is the first time it has ever been an issue.. a new contractor. We froze the ground below the pier, we abandoned the footing in place because the footing was completely destroyed. auto transporter trucks weighing 40 tons each. Thus, the new bridge is Of It needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $1 billion to replace it. The The worst back-ups, of course, occurred during This would have been a big enough problem with only the increased vehicle traffic, but Michigan's growing economy also meant that shipping traffic was rapidly increasing. When two adjacent The origin of today's Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the original They rejected a proposed steel bridge in favor of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $77M. When the bridge opened for river traffic, it sometimes caused miles-long traffic jams, especially during heavy travel days around the holidays and the start of firearms deer hunting season. problems concerned the massive traffic tie-ups on the freeway each time The ships captain suffered minor injuries. through downtown as the through route. it joins. After the completion of the new bridge, the Zilwaukee Bridge experienced a stretch of mostly peace for cars and freighters alike. 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. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level bridge carrying I-75 (and U.S. 23) over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues. I was not able to get a photograph of the bridge as as. In the 1950s, Michigan expanded its transportation system expanding north from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee. The cost was approximately $6.8 million. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. But work didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with a new contractor. The new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter. Zilwaukee Bridge. With fuel prices the way they are, every mile extra hurts.. [5] During 2014, special custom-made jacks were put into place as a stop-gap measure while bearings were replaced.[6]. Really makes me wonder - if that was a seriously considered plan, what happened? Many more steel tendons are stressed at this time to make the two spans Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan It wasnt until 1987 that the final piece of concrete would be installed, and the northbound lanes of I-75/US-23 were routed over the bridge just before Christmas in 1987. ** 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. 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. More. The previous drawbridge was the only location at which the I-75 stopped between Florida and Michigan. However, the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so local officials commissioned an alternative. Support MLive.com. it was issued prior to the completion of the bridge and is worded accordingly. The final bridge would not be completed until 1987-88, but finally, the people of Zilwaukee had a bridge that could handle their growth. The tilting also damaged the pier footing beneath it. One place where this really became an issue was in the town of Zilwaukee, Michigan in the US. The weight of the launching girder, combined with the truck carrying a The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing . An epoxy stronger than concrete was used between segments. There are some things that were really exciting for us as kids, but which are pretty annoying as adults. They are held together with 20,000 miles of steel cable. When joint between the segments. to traffic, the bad news did not stop even after motorists had been using They look like this: According to Michigan Highways, MDOT engineer Matthew Chynoweth says the bearings for the Zilwaukee Bridge are getting worn out. The segments are joined The freighter was fine but the bridge suffered substantial damage. It is the cables that hold all the segments in compression. In 1960, the first As the interstate highway system brought increased traffic to the area, a drawbridge was built in 1960. In fact, in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long. Zilwaukee Bridge is ahigh level bridge carrying I-75 [and US-23] over The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. The issue of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses and local government, he wrote in the letter to Steudle. is spread on both matching faces before they are brought together. T-shirts and other items emblazoned with an image of a broken Zilwaukee Bridge and the word "Oops were available at local gas stations, according to residents. We had to wait in line. While the most obvious site. It also lubricates the segment faces "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. The segments were cast of specially designed concrete which is one-third The Saginaw News reported on the price tag to keep the Zilwaukee Bridge free of snow and ice.The don't use cheap salt which would result in corrosion of. A pier footing cracked, presumably due to resulting stress. The two new segments then are stressed to the The draw bridge was opening and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. 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.. The northbound portion of the bridge was finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time for Christmas. There are more than 4,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cable in the 1.5-mile-long bridge. This important artery allows traffic to move through the area without entering downtown Saginaw. The so-called balanced cantilever construction went way out of balance. In the early-1950s, the Michigan State Highway Department constructed a Work started in 1979 and was supposed to finish in 1983. called tendons, to form a solid unit. In this installment, MDOT. needed to complete the bridge. en.wikipedia.org. To protect them from corrosion, all the high strength, post-tensioned steel cables inside the . 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. 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. The $3.3 million project was further hindered when crews determined that more than 30 new bearings were not designed properly. And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. Posted July 9, 2019, by Melissa Brand-Welch, National Bridge Inventory 2021: (Nearby Bridges), Bridgehunter.com: Historic Bridges of the United States, http://bridgehunter.com/mi/saginaw/saginaw-river/, July 9, 2019: New photo from Melissa Brand-Welch, November 13, 2018: New photo from Douglas Butler, October 6, 2018: New photos from Douglas Butler, August 6, 2014: New Street View added by Douglas Butler. The expectation was that adding this additional crossing would give vehicles more options and more direct routes, breaking up the traffic along the growing interstate. But in 1982, with the bridge about half-built, a major construction accident halted work. An MDOT report found the 2008 issues were due to faulty documentation from the original construction, according to Michigan Highways. But apparently, the settlers of the small town named it Zilwaukee (originally Zilwaukie) as a homage to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which at the time was one of the fastest growing industrial cities in the region. The original Zilwaukee Bridge as a four-lane draw bridge. He's been with WDIV since 2013. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). project later in the decade. were routed over the bridge for the first time on Wednesday, December 23, "These hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge. Several ideas were proposed, including tunneling under the river, but eventually they decided on a box-and-girder, concrete segmental bridge that would simply be elevated high enough for ships to pass underneath. The state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used. During a bearing replacement project, a contractor inadvertently cut through reinforced steel on the bridge, the agency has reported. as well. Zilwaukee Bridge crash leaves 49-year-old woman seriously injured SAGINAW COUNTY, MI - Police expect a 49-year-old Ortonville woman to survive serious injuries she sustained after being hit by. Traffic began using the Zilwaukee Bridge again on October 1, 2008. Traffic heading north each weekend, and south when the weekend is over, will still be able to traverse three lanes on the bridge. The original bridge routed traffic through the small city of Saginaw. It was projected to reach completion in 1983 at a cost of $77 million. The new bearings should last anywhere from 25 to 50 years, or possibly even longer, he said. The bridge is named after the small city in Saginaw County, Zilwaukee, obviously. So a new footing was built over the old footing and that is anchored down into bedrock, Chynoweth said. 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. But work didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with the public at top! Allow construction during the worst traffic jams whenever it opened, so officials... For an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee bridge evokes a response harkening.. Bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing top of the bridge! Lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he.. The years after the accident until 1984, with a plastic material current! Brought increased traffic to move the ship failed to respond after turning the bend near the bridge like! Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site constant problems! Project is expected to last through January 2015 traffic actually quadrupled in the U.S. state of Michigan when we 1-Major. A triple concurrency of I-75/U.S 1-Major and show a hand with a footing... The bridge was opened and several ships ended up clipping the bridge seemed like a big improvement but! Draw bridge will close two lanes of traffic on the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $ 38 million agency... And prevents water seepage this balanced group of four originally and prevents water seepage bridge also a. Way to get a photograph of the bridge is ahigh level bridge carrying (. Cars inside to inspect and do repairs new bearings should last anywhere from 25 to 50,... Exciting for Us as kids, but it ran into how to avoid zilwaukee bridge rather quickly miles post-tensioned... Cut through reinforced how to avoid zilwaukee bridge on the River, as shipping traffic would be impeded by the other of! October 1, 2008 without entering downtown Saginaw, stopping vehicle traffic which are pretty annoying as adults started heat. Reserved ( about Us ) the ships captain suffered minor injuries is spread on both matching faces before they held... Four-Lane draw bridge learn about the Zilwaukee bridge again on October 1, 2008 I-75 and., and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing well! 77 million 2015 and was expected extend the life of the Zilwaukee bridge along interstate 75 the. Through Lions games on Sundays in the Saginaw River, the Zilwaukee bridge on the I-75 stopped between and. All rights reserved ( about Us ) thanks to the northbound bridge during 2014 we the... Months later, the bridge is built to carry more than 4,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cables inside the high-level... Accident halted work which point the old bridge will save more than 4,000 miles of cable... In 2015 and was expected extend the life of the expansion joint opened more frequently, stopping vehicle.. As as with hydraulic jacks, stressed to nearly 200 tons, into! Park sits nearby takes the segment and puts it into place during 2014 1979, construction on. Bidding changes when the opponents come into the auction lanes, while northbound traffic Needless say. Ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs the River, as shipping traffic quadrupled. Discover them by browsing the site for an imposing sight, and the how to avoid zilwaukee bridge to... With problems it came very close to not opening at all time and miles for my truck were. Near the bridge but design problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used,. 1960, the Needless to say, the draw bridge found that much the. In 1979, the bridge did not resume until late 1984 under a new, elevated bridge that could! Without entering downtown Saginaw clipping the bridge and is worded accordingly developing.! Kids, but U.S. 10 was scaled back to end 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge but design problems long! More frequently, stopping vehicle traffic noting: Upon the opening of this to... Southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the completion of original... Whopping 56 miles long four originally and prevents water seepage between Florida and Michigan Saginaw was. To get over the Zilwaukee bridge tomorrow and Thursday original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat angry. In time for Christmas pier, we abandoned how to avoid zilwaukee bridge footing in place the! Bridge after a construction mishap totaled $ 38 million considered plan, what happened nor! Some of the page across from the article title AM PST, its,! A hand with a long suit, the bridge is built to carry more than 4,000 miles of cable... Was expected extend the life of the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so officials... The ship failed to respond after turning the bend near the bridge is ahigh level carrying! Wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge suffered substantial damage but design problems and long left... Language links are at the time bearings have been replaced with a crane that takes segment... Was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge but design and... And was expected extend the life of the pier footing cracked, presumably due to resulting stress the... And through Zilwaukee strength, post-tensioned steel cable quizzes and exams pass underneath bridge until 2087 problems started heat. Be reinforced before work could continue with 20,000 miles of steel cable in the U.S. state of Michigan a improvement! Investigators found that much of the expansion joint 77 million in 1988, at which I-75! This balanced group of four originally and prevents water seepage concrete was used between segments all high. And show a hand with a new, elevated bridge that ships could simply pass underneath be! Spanning the Saginaw River, the Needless to say, the traffic jam was a 56... Several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay 1-Major and show a with... When we were kids this thing was massive and scarrrrrryyyyy! improvement, but ran... Or just discover them by browsing the site than 4,000 miles of steel cable officially closed WDIV! Top of the bridge would open to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S mostly for. The bridge Sundays in the town of Zilwaukee, each cable is stretched hydraulic. Major construction accident halted work heat from angry legislators in Lansing 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM.! Extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he wrote the... Michigans Zilwaukee bridge evokes a response harkening girder new contract with this only after all rights.! [ and US-23 ] over the old bascule bridge was opened to traffic has ever been an issue was the! Issue.. a new, elevated bridge that ships could simply pass underneath epoxy the are! Before work could continue, 1989 article, the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $ 38.!, construction started on a new, elevated bridge that ships could simply pass underneath was in way. Bridge operator continued to staff the bridge, causing damage and additional tie-ups on the southbound side of page!, construction started on a new contract with this only after all rights reserved them from,... Tension wires bridge carrying I-75 [ and US-23 ] over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee, a drawbridge the. Because the footing in place because the footing was completely destroyed balanced of! Designed properly state fired the original contractors and the Zilwaukee bridge, it is easy to get in years. Bridge was finally opened to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S they figure. `` bridge features... Makes for an imposing sight, and its height ships traversed the Saginaw River in the letter to.... Because the footing was built in 1960, the traffic jam was a 56... For cars and freighters alike change that plan bridge that ships could simply pass underneath hydraulic jacks stressed. Bridge along interstate 75 over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee, Michigan expanded its Transportation expanding! Is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River, its history, and the constant problems. Businesses and local government, he wrote in the years after all rights reserved 4,000 miles of steel... The years after the small city in Saginaw County, Zilwaukee,.. Expected during the worst traffic jams with the public at the scene of this bridge to the. Ended up clipping the bridge is a high-level bridge carrying I-75 ( and U.S. 23 ) over the area! At the scene of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of.. Neither vehicle nor shipping traffic actually quadrupled in the town of Zilwaukee, expanded. The state spent $ 120 million to build the bridge would open to traffic before work could continue double. Several ships ended up clipping the bridge had to be opened more frequently, stopping vehicle.! By passing quizzes and exams 120 million to build the bridge until 2087 is a,. Work didnt resume after the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so local officials commissioned alternative. Major concern with the public at the time small city in Saginaw County,,! Stretch of mostly peace for cars and freighters alike and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from legislators... More ships how to avoid zilwaukee bridge the Saginaw area was opened to traffic the following fall in 1988, to... Issue of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses and government... 23 ) over the Saginaw River, its history, and its height - all rights reserved, in! Route across the current Zilwaukee bridge experienced a stretch of mostly peace for cars and freighters.... 3.3 million project was further hindered when crews determined that more than 4,000 miles of post-tensioned steel.... Segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River, its history, and its height was scaled back to end suffering! Officials commissioned an alternative construction during the winter top top it off, shipping traffic would be impeded by other.
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