National Register of Historic Places

South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge

Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Listed
January 7, 2000
Type
Structure
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
99001651

About this property

The South Union Street–Boardman River Bridge, also known as the Trunk Line Bridge, is a bridge located on South Union Street over the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The South Union Street–Boardman River Bridge is 75 feet (23 m) and 40 feet (12 m) wide with a 73-foot (22 m) span over the Boardman River. A park with footpath runs underneath the bridge, and a dam and the attractive American Legion Memorial Bridge can be seen on each side of the bridge. Stairs lead down along the bridge to the river park beneath. The bridge is lined with a concrete balustrade railing with square spindles, and concrete parapets are at each end. In 1929, Traverse City undertook planning to replace the dangerous bridges crossing the Boardman River at Cass and Union Streets. However, the state of Michigan took responsibility for the Union Street Bridge, which then carried US 31. The state surveyed the existing bridge in late 1929, and sent plans for a new structure to the city in July 1930. Bids for the bridge were solicited, and in early 1931 Jackson contractor L. W. Lamb won the contract for $66,482. Additional expenditures brought the total price to almost $78,000. The bridge was completed in 1931, and was praised as an aesthetic success, fitting into its park surroundings and making an attractive gateway for the region's tourists. Extensive renovation of the bridge is planned in 2023, including replacement of existing concrete deck and steel beams and the installation of a decorative pedestrian railing. South Union Street Bridge from HistoricBridges.org

Location

Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
44.76194, -85.62371

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

City Opera House
Industrial
0.1 mi
American Legion Memorial Bridge
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hannah, Perry, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Central Neighborhood Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Boardman Neighborhood Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge listed on the National Register?

South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 2000.

What type of historic resource is South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge?

South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge?

The period of significance for South Union Street-Boardman River Bridge is recorded as the civil_war era.

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