US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge
About this property
The Old US 41–Backwater Creek Bridge is a bridge located on an abandoned section of US Highway 41 (US 41) over Backwater Creek in Baraga Township, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. In 1913, the state of Michigan authorized the construction of trunkline roads through the state. A main trunkline route through Baraga County was designated, extending from Michigamme to Chassell. By 1915, the trunkline had been completed, and the Baraga County Road Commission spent the remainder of the decade slowly improving the route, regrading segments and replacing some bridges. One of the improvements along the route was the construction of a bridge across the end of Keweenaw Bay, two miles (3.2 km) south of Baraga. The Michigan State Highway Department designed a long-span pony truss bridge for the crossing, designated State Trunk Line Bridge No. 86. In 1917, the department awarded contracts for the construction of the bridge: Smith-Sparks Construction Company was awarded $5,414.20 to fabricate the concrete substructure, and the Northwestern Bridge and Iron Company fabricated and installed the truss for $4,536.00. The structure was completed in 1918. In 1926, the trunkline road was incorporated into US 41. Traffic along the route increased, and eventually a replacement bridge was built nearby. The original bridge remains, in essentially unaltered condition, and is now a privately owned structure. The Old US 41–Backwater Creek Bridge is a rigidly connected Warren pony truss, 80 feet (24 m) long with an 18-foot-wide (5.5 m) roadway. The deck is constructed of I-beams bolted to the verticals and support stringers, over which a concrete roadway is laid. The trusses are supported by concrete abutments on all four corners, having angled wingwalls. The bridge is historically important as an early part of the region's infrastructure, and is technologically noteworthy as one of the earliest examples of a standard highway department pony truss design in the state. List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan National Register of Historic Places listings in Baraga County, Michigan Old US 41–Backwater Creek Bridge at HistoricBridges.org
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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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Questions about this property
When was US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge listed on the National Register?
US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 9, 1999.
What type of historic resource is US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge?
US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge?
The period of significance for US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near US-41 (old)-Backwater Creek Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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