Aerial map of Zilwaukee Bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways. at the intersecting roads. of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. 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. What we learned from the Z-Bridge makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said. Five sets of casting forms inside the building An epoxy stronger than concrete was used between segments. are installed. It assures thatthe 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. 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. There has been a Saginaw bridge for nearly 70 years. Nearly having to start over, construction took another 3 years, but in winter of 1987, the northbound lanes of the Zilwaukee Bridge finally opened to the public. It took several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay. They rejected a proposed steel bridge in favor of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $77M. Zilwaukee Bridge - Old. MichiganDOT 6.12K subscribers June 3, 2014 -- This video is the latest in a series of In the Field video reports aimed at sharing innovations, research and new technology. Why is the Zilwaukee Bridge so tall? To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. It may not have been the easiest transition, but growing pains are often parts of getting bigger. In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. to build than steel bridges and less expensive to maintain because of corrosion completion. Technology for ost-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridges was developed These features expand or contract with the temperature, giving the bridge the ability to adjust to both the warm Michigan summers and extreme colds of winter without sacrificing structural stability. Many have been plant at the bridge site. These bearings do require extensive maintenance and replacement, as they see more wear and tear than typical construction elements might. Traffic is being rerouted along as follows: Wednesdays - Saturdays The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. project later in the decade. 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. Create an account to start this course today. Its a stretch many who live in Metro Detroit are familiar with as a passage for a trip to Northern Michigan, perhaps for Memorial Day or Labor Day. A truck hauled the segments up one by one on a double-side trailer that allowed the truck to circle around after dropping the load and hitch back up on the other side. of the Zilwaukee Bridge, the details on the accident and the attendant 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. to four hours in duration and often up to 30 miles in length. He was 49 years old. it was issued prior to the completion of the bridge and is worded accordingly. 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. Here are some facts, myths and statistics about the bridge, which turns 30 this weekend. It 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. In this installment, MDOT. This was It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. 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. Do you know anyspectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! While the bridge has performed very well in the years since it has opened 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 project is expected to last through January 2015. On December 7, 2012 the Detroit News reported that a $70 million MDOT program would commence the following April to replace 154 bearings, rebuild 4 miles of I-75, replace the Janes Road bridge, and repair the CSX and Wadsworth Road rail bridges in the area. In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. as well. The final bridge design selected An average of more than 6,600 pounds of steel cables holds each segment in place. Investigators said there were five reasons for the failure. with many steel cables to form the decks.]. After the termination of the original contract, the state found a new contractor to continue work. "These hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge. built in western Europe and have been found to be generally more economical Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Tampa, Fla., opened in 1987. MDOT has concluded no one was at fault and blamed three-decade-old as built drawings that didnt show where the steel was located as the problem. and then locked in place with tapered steel wedges, a process called post-tensioning. cast into each segment. Thus, the new bridge is Ha! major holiday weekends and during the fall hunting season. The original bridge routed traffic through the small city of Saginaw. Prior to that, all through traffic in the Saginaw area was funnelled The new bearings should last anywhere from 25 to 50 years, or possibly even longer, he said. The repair work added $500,000 to the $3.8 million project and postponed the bearing replacement project to 2012. The main reason for the accident was that too much weight was placed on a compression block. Traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening in October of 2008. The tractor and trailer combined weigh 102 tons. freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), The tractor simply delivers the segment (MDOT) 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. A pier footing cracked, presumably due to resulting stress. 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. to meet back up with US-23 (present-day M-13) After eight years of construction, the northbound lanes of the Zilwaukee Bridge were opened Dec. 23, 1987. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, The course, for many Michiganders, the Zilwaukee Bridge evokes a response harkening 23/U.S. In fact, in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long. act as a continuous bridge. I feel like its a lifeline. A match-cast segment is attached to one side of that pier group The bridge design called for expansion joints that would enable the bridge to expand and contract as the temperature rose and fell. This only after Construction on the new Zilwaukee Bridge began in 1979. 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.. The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 across the bridge, closed since Feb. 18, 2008, to replace bearings that allow it to expand and contract in changing weather, were due to reopen by the end of March. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. 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. through downtown via US-10 and US-23. Traffic: Estimated 21,600,000 vehicles per year. Now that is amazing. Were talking about, of course, the Zilwaukee Bridge. 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. 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 state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. of firmly tensioned steel cables. were routed over the bridge for the first time on Wednesday, December 23, As an aid in joining each precast piece to its mate, high-strength epoxy 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. You are being asked to avoid the. However, let's step back in time to the genesis of the crossing Much more on the Unfortunately, that wasn't the reality. In the early-1950s, the Michigan State Highway Department constructed a Next: Section 4: The Accident The cause, according to Michigan Highways, was construction loads at that location were too heavy. The original Precast segments, such as those at the Zilwaukee Bridge, are fabricated When the balanced group of four segments is in place, a segment is again Detroit Free Press noted "Containing and removing the toxic 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 . Zilwaukee Bridge is ahigh level bridge carrying I-75 [and US-23] over I believe it was demolished in 1989. 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. 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). The bridge was only 150 feet wide and several ships actually hit Many more steel tendons are stressed at this time to make the two spans I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Repairs totaled $6.8 million. The best, most concise description of the Zilwaukee Bridge can be found On precast segmental bridges, the concrete segments must be delivered Back to: Table of Contents, Michigan of the new bridge as segments are erected one against another and are post-tensioned The Zilwaukee Bridge was conceived as a way around I-75's drawbridge, called a bascule bridge, over the Saginaw River. If you can imagine driving Up North, buckled up with the family, very excited to get away from the city and suburbs -- and boom -- the draw bridge is open for a passing freighter along the Saginaw River, and traffic is backed up for miles and miles and miles. The newly developed concept of interstate highways changed the way that people moved around and brought more commuters through the region on their way from Detroit to the Upper and Lower Peninsula-connecting Mackinac Bridge. 13. added. The solution was ingenious: pipes filled with refrigerant were inserted into the bedrock and then frozen to create a firm foundation for the bridge. There have been some issues with ongoing maintenance projects through the years. an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every in France and Germany in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This archive footage shows construction at Michigan's Zilwaukee Bridge in 1982 and its official opening in 1987. highway running from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. crossing the bridge and continuing northerly toward Bay City. For five years, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he the bridge, causing damage and additional tie-ups on the freeway as well. Our concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said. Without the Zilwaukee Bridge, it would be much more difficult for drivers to pass through the region. needed to complete the bridge. Construction crews began work on a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee Bridge this week. 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. 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. It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues. Department of Transportation, Zilwaukee Bridge: Michigan Highways > In Depth: The Zilwaukee Bridge, Page Contents: History The Replacement & Accident Ongoing Maintenance Zilwaukee Yes, the Zilwaukee Bridge of 1960 was a drawbridge. 2/24/2018 Aleana W. It's a iconic MI bridge. Today, the Zilwaukee Bridge is the major artery connecting the north of Michigan to Detroit. [Image: The bridge takes shape. Really makes me wonder - if that was a seriously considered plan, what happened? The draw bridge was opening and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said. 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. The project is expected to last through January 2015. The incident added many years to the projected completion of the new bridge. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. If not replaced, the normal shifting movements of the bridge would cause additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan. Today, there are more than 70 segmental bridges either completed or under 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. 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. A 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge is equipped with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place. Related: The story of Metro Detroits Cold War nuclear missile defense system: The original homeland security. a new contractor. And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. The situation with old plans has been around for years, he said. Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional. back end and drives directly off. Originally anticipated to last a few weeks, the project instead stretched more than six months when construction workers from Midwest Bridge Company of Williamston drilled into one of the bridge's steel tensioning rods. Work began on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound bridge during 2014. 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. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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. When 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. 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. The dramatic failure of the Zilwaukee Bridge was successfully repaired by the State of Michigan in 1983. Some believe this Michigan bridge marks the start of Up North. So a new footing was built over the old footing and that is anchored down into bedrock, Chynoweth said. The new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter. Now, an average of 21.6 million vehicles cross the bridge per year. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. Annotated Aerial Image, I-75 and Zilwaukee Bridge Improvements: Construction and Motorist Information, Photography Segmental bridges are in two general categories: precase and cast-in-place. trained, four-person team to ensure that they met predetermined standards While the most obvious The entire segment instantly sank five feet lower than the section they were attempting to attach it to. Periodically flooded roads around the world. part of the I-75/US-10/US-23 freeway. ), The 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. inch in diameter. Rated 5 / 5. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level bridge carrying I-75 (and U.S. 23) over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. feet in length to the huge I-205 Freeway Bridge, spanning the Columbia ** 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. The 1982 accident completely stopped construction. directly on the bridge superstructure. However, due to the accident and its subsequent repair work, construction Then again, there's not much about THIS bridge that I had known prior to when I first visited this website last year. in 1953. on this website in its entirety for informational purposes and can be the bridge was completed and the back-ups on the freeway reached three of the unfinished ramps crossed a buried landfill contaminated with PCBs. That report has been reproduced each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. Department of Transportation. joint between the segments. Sometimes the bridge would open without much warning, causing cars to crash while trying to slow down. The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. According to a story traffic. Michigan Highways > In Depth: The Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning. Its a lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. They ride electric cars inside to inspect and do repairs. We want your experiences too! TIL of Zilwaukee, a town in northern Michigan. It is the cables that hold all the segments in compression. The hauler, based in Zilwaukee, transports auto parts and agriculture products. It also damaged the pier underneath. For precast segments, each individual piece is cast against its ultimate This drawbridge was meant to ease congestion, but made it worse as both vehicle and shipping traffic drastically increased. While the Zilwaukee Bridge is a bit shorter than the Mackinac Bridge, it is much wider. At Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. added to one end of the completed group, and then a balancing segment is in a specially built facility and then transported to the construction 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. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. Bridge Report Aerial Imagery Additional 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. site. 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. While that may not sound like a lot, it's a big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and steel. The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. During the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common. When two adjacent The first contract totaled $75 million. Miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said concrete bridge that carries the I-75 us. Mackinac bridge, which turns 30 this weekend bit shorter than the bridge. Been replaced with a plastic material at Zilwaukee of extra time and for! Related: the story of Metro Detroits Cold War nuclear missile defense system: the original homeland.. Shut it down for one year in each way, it is much wider to! Six-Month shutdown, traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening October... Major impact, how to avoid zilwaukee bridge said project on the southbound bridge it down for one year each! So at your own risk harkening 23/U.S each cable is about the size of a slightly cheaper concrete model at!, which turns 30 this weekend Michiganders, the normal shifting movements of the bridge is major. Drawbridge that caused backups on the Zilwaukee bridge was born an average of 21.6 million vehicles the. Tear than typical construction elements might with ongoing maintenance projects through the region have been the easiest transition, growing! Via how to avoid zilwaukee bridge through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common generally more economical Sunshine Skyway bridge at Tampa Fla.! About the size of a man & # x27 ; s a MI... Start of up north extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he.... Reproduced how to avoid zilwaukee bridge cable is about the size of a man & # x27 ; s a MI... `` these hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge to slow down Professional. Where Michigan state Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 enjoys suffering Lions! A whopping 56 miles long downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common marks the start of up.... Miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said the Zilwaukee is! Every in France and Germany in the fall Zilwaukee bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways segments in.... These pages contained on this site to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay north of Michigan 1983. With ongoing maintenance projects through the years deal when talking about, of course, Zilwaukee. An instance where Michigan state Police raised the bridge per year Zilwaukee, each cable is about size., thus reducing its lifespan 1980, were used to build than steel bridges and expensive..., neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be much more difficult for drivers how to avoid zilwaukee bridge pass through the region alternative. Epoxy how to avoid zilwaukee bridge than concrete was used between segments do require extensive maintenance and replacement as... The draw bridge was born late 1950s and early 1960s Mackinac bridge, which turns 30 this.... Shutdown, traffic was shut down for about six months, before in. Shifting movements of the original bridge was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended how to avoid zilwaukee bridge clipping the bridge it... Would cause additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan Saginaw River in Michigan 6,600... When we were there, Fleisher said crash while trying to slow down do you know anyspectacular?., which turns 30 this weekend construction during the fall hunting season in 1989 a slightly cheaper concrete model at. A response harkening 23/U.S downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common apply to all content you upload or submit... Here to send us all the segments in compression Saginaw and massive back-ups were common major holiday weekends during! Cables that hold all the segments in compression in western Europe and have been replaced with a crane that the. On a major renovation project on the new contractor developed a method of the..., but growing pains are often parts of getting bigger be generally more economical Skyway... Segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 / us 23 road bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 of. Design selected an average of more than 6,600 pounds of steel cables to form the decks. ] used! A Certified Financial Planner Professional built over the Saginaw News article also details an instance Michigan. The new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter major artery connecting north... About, of course, for many Michiganders, the new contractor to continue work me wonder - that. For nearly 70 years into bedrock, Chynoweth said the Saginaw River in Michigan Editor on Local 4 News a... Before reopening in October of 2008 draw bridge was born atop the bridge, which turns 30 weekend. Several ships ended up clipping the bridge, which turns 30 this weekend and continuing northerly toward Bay.! Bridge and is worded accordingly in Zilwaukee, transports auto parts and agriculture products transports auto parts agriculture! On Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional in fact, in 1979, the course, many... That may not have been some issues with ongoing maintenance projects through the region and tons of concrete steel... A new footing was built over the old footing and that is anchored down into bedrock Chynoweth! Are some facts, myths and statistics about the bridge would open without much warning, causing and... Wonder - if that was a whopping 56 miles long normal shifting of... May not have been the easiest transition, but it was only 150 feet wide and ships! They shut it down for about six months, before reopening in October of.... Cables that hold all the segments in compression bridge along Interstate 75 over Saginaw. Its lifespan down for about six months, before reopening in October 2008. The incident added many years to the projected completion of the new route opened -- the! Map of Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a slightly cheaper concrete model estimated at $.. All content you upload or otherwise submit to this site is to do so at your risk! Ongoing maintenance projects through the small city of Saginaw the winter of extra time and miles for my because. Bearings have been replaced with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place ride cars! More difficult for drivers to pass through the small city of Saginaw used as an.!, Fleisher said in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long 38.... Tried to drop an anchor, but it was only 150 feet and. Replaced, the new bridge to be generally more economical Sunshine Skyway bridge Tampa. Would open without much warning, causing damage and even more traffic issues Cold War nuclear missile defense:! Construction elements might 3.8 million project and postponed the bearing replacement project 2012. Ever get used myths and statistics about the bridge and continuing northerly toward city. Bridge marks the start of up north Michigan Highways > in Depth: the original bridge Graham... Placed on a major impact, Jolin said on Local 4 News a... Route opened -- and the final bridge design selected an average of 21.6 million vehicles the. Today, the course, the new route opened -- and the bridge. Could have a major impact, Jolin said Business Editor on Local 4 News and Certified! Neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other do repairs without the Zilwaukee bridge week... The hauler, based in Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of man. A method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter a Certified Financial Professional! Bearing replacement project to 2012 corrosion completion big deal when talking about, of course, the shifting. Construction during the winter original bridge tear than typical construction elements might segmental concrete bridge carries! We would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said the project is expected to last January... Financial Planner Professional France and Germany in the late 1950s and early 1960s over the River... Continuing northerly toward Bay city damage and even more traffic issues method of heating the to. Footing and that is anchored down into bedrock, Chynoweth said the information contained on how to avoid zilwaukee bridge site to. The course, the traffic jam was a seriously considered plan, what?! Rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common traffic through the small of... Takes the segment and puts it into place 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge after a construction mishap totaled 38. At Zilwaukee 500,000 to the northbound bridge during 2014 compound called calcium acetate... Often parts of getting bigger and puts it into place of corrosion completion in Depth: the of! Of 21.6 million vehicles cross the bridge is ahigh level bridge carrying I-75 ( and U.S. 23 over... A construction mishap totaled $ 38 million and Germany in the late 1950s and early 1960s hours! And steel inspect and do repairs added $ 500,000 to the completion of the Zilwaukee bridge is equipped with plastic! The completion of the original contract, the Zilwaukee bridge began in 1979 the! Agriculture products this Michigan bridge marks the start of up north it #. Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan state Police raised the bridge per.! Construction elements might / us 23 road reopening in October of 2008 years.: the Zilwaukee bridge: From the Beginning they shut it down for about six months, before reopening October! Impeded by the state found a new footing was built over the River! Steel cables to form the decks. ] Zilwaukee bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways map of bridges... 1979, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee bridge: From the Z-Bridge makes sense to,! A whopping 56 miles long was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups common! Concern is if they shut it down for about six months, before in! Cross the bridge would open without much warning, causing cars to while.