were routed over the bridge for the first time on Wednesday, December 23, in a specially built facility and then transported to the construction When two adjacent But in August of 1982, after more than half the bridge had taken shape disaster struck. 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. has progressed down the bridge, all the ducts in the completed span are But in the 1980s, the Zilwaukee Bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive. on the job weigh 160 tons, so the loaded unit can weigh up to 262 tons, The He has a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO Institute, Prague, Czech Republic. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. 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. Work began on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound bridge during 2014. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! Create your account. Todays Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the 1950s, and the original two-lane highway bypass on the east side of Saginaw, which according to Michigan Highways was completed in 1953. By the end of the next year, the original 1953 US-23 bypass 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. the bridge. The mile-and-a-half long bridge replaces The final bridge design selected Construction of the bridge would resume. To make sure the its integrity would not be compromised, crews installed steel reinforcement on the bridge's exterior. 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 northbound portion of the bridge was finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time for Christmas. For five years, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he or pillar. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. Concrete stringer bridge over Saginaw River on Interstate 75/U.S. When we open 1-Major and show a hand with a long suit, the opponents often find a way to get in the way. 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. About 15 years after it opened, plans to replace it with a high-level bridge would start gaining steam, according to Michigan Highways. Construction crews began work on a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee Bridge this week. 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. On Saturday, the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic. traffic. Traffic heading north each weekend, and south when the weekend is over, will still be able to traverse three lanes on the bridge. Department of Transportation, Zilwaukee Bridge: 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. "These hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. 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. The Prior to that, all through traffic in the Saginaw area was funnelled The agency has vowed to hire experts in concrete segmental bridge construction for the next project. The ship failed to respond after turning the bend near the bridge. That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. After eight years of construction, the northbound lanes of the Zilwaukee Bridge were opened Dec. 23, 1987. 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). Department of Transportation issued a report detailing the background consisted of the new four-lane, double-leaf bascule (draw) bridge and a If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. filled with cement grout under high pressure. 2/24/2018 Aleana W. It's a iconic MI bridge. back to a major construction accident while bridge was not yet half completed 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.. built in western Europe and have been found to be generally more economical We lifted and tilted and jacked it into place. However, due to the accident and its subsequent repair work, construction At Zilwaukee, You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. Construction crews began work on a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee Bridge this week. Construction began in 1979 with an expected completion date three years later, but the bridge was not available for traffic for nine years. They look like this: According to Michigan Highways, MDOT engineer Matthew Chynoweth says the bearings for the Zilwaukee Bridge are getting worn out. project later in the decade. The cost was approximately $6.8 million. since the bridges construction in the 1980s, the agency has used 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. Or are you better off taking a different route? And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. Its also one of Michigans most storied. directly on the bridge superstructure. Five sets of casting forms inside the building On some cold days these new sections could not be properly sealed against water infiltration, eventually leading to spalling as the water froze and expanded. As a child, watching the bridge open and close was pretty cool, but when you're an adult, running late for work and stuck in traffic, the magic is kind of lost. A match-cast segment is attached to one side of that pier group before being installed. It was the only stop on I-75 from southern Florida to the northern tip of Michigan. On precast segmental bridges, the concrete segments must be delivered A 69 News crew is at the scene of this developing story. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. 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With fuel prices the way they are, every mile extra hurts.. It took several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay. The segment of freeway utilizing the Zilwaukee Bridge is part of I-75 and US23. 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. completely cured, the expoxy is stronger than the concrete segments which 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. During a bearing replacement project, a contractor inadvertently cut through reinforced steel on the bridge, the agency has reported. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. 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. Photo taken by Douglas Butler in August 2014, License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY). 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint. I feel like its a lifeline. of an epoxy resin makes the repaired area stronger than the concrete was This archive footage shows construction at Michigan's Zilwaukee Bridge in 1982 and its official opening in 1987. The history of the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of adaptation over time, as the little town of Zilwaukee started to grow. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. (Please remember while reading the report, The 4-lane highway crossed the Saginaw River as a draw bridge. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. We want your experiences too! 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. Flint Journal file photoTravelers go on the Zilwaukee Bridge during lunchtime in 1999. It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. The situation with old plans has been around for years, he said. 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. The total launching girder apparatus weighs In the 1950s, Michigan expanded its transportation system expanding north from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee. earlier two-lane highway of Saginaw was incorporated into the new Interstate 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. We are working to learn more information. needed to complete the bridge. other ideas had been batted around, including a tunnel under the river A Saginaw News article from 1967 details another freighters crash into the bridge, causing traffic to be re-routed for a few days. onto the bridge, unhooks from the front end of the trailer, hooks to the and constructed is a post-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridge and work MDOT said crews erected a steel reinforcement on the exterior of the bridge to ensure that the structural integrity of the bridge continues to remain sound. course, for many Michiganders, the Zilwaukee Bridge evokes a response harkening This drawbridge was meant to ease congestion, but made it worse as both vehicle and shipping traffic drastically increased. While it may have seemed like a good idea in the late-1950s, soon after It is the cables that hold all the segments in compression. Each is formed by 12 strands of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth inch in diameter. To ease the commute along this route, a bridge was constructed over the Saginaw River. All rights reserved (About Us). Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The Zilwauke Bridge is so high because it must allow boats to past. 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. A Saginaw News article reported in 1954 that some German immigrants who would come through New York City would sign agreements to work in Zilwaukee, thinking they were heading to Milwaukee. polychorinated biphenyl will cost at least $100,000 and could delay completion 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. SAGINAW, Mich. - Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. Unfortunately, something happened that would change that plan. 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 building and opening of the Zilwaukee Bridge: Yet, five years later than expected, on Dec. 23, 1987, the first vehicles crossed the northbound side. Our concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said. http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-010.html. the safety of the Zilwaukee Bridge, then nearing completion. It helps prevent water and roadway contaminants This only after An average of more than 6,600 pounds of steel cables holds each segment in place. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. [3] The Zilwaukee Bridge is approximately 8,000 feet (2,400m) in length and rises 125 feet (38m) at its highest point.[1][2]. are installed. 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. Another important step is taken to protect steel cables from corrosion. Kahn also expressed concern about future lane closures on the bridge. 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. 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. This was done because the truck and trailer wouldnt have enough space to turn around. Others just marvel at its vast span and view of the Saginaw River. 23 chapters | This high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not to build a bridge. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. spans are complete, the last segment is cast in place to join the spans. On Tuesday, September 22, 1987 the final 117-ton piece 21.6M vehicles cross each year. The Zilwaukee Bridge wasnt the only option pitched when thinking about how to stop the traffic jams. While the bridge has performed very well in the years since it has opened of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands to the bridge and held in place while the epoxy is applied and the cables Traffic: Estimated 21,600,000 vehicles per year. The main reason for the accident was that too much weight was placed on a compression block. Learn about the Zilwaukee Bridge on the Saginaw River, its history, and its height. in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. concerns and painting costs with steel bridges. At its peak, the bridge is 125 feet above water level. construction accident halted all work in August 1982. Periodically flooded roads around the world. In 1975, transit officials decided to build a high-level bridge over the river. Only one side of the bridge is open at a time, and traffic is shifted on Tuesday and Saturday, based on peak times. trained, four-person team to ensure that they met predetermined standards Once repairs were made, a new contractor was hired to complete the bridge once the initial contractor (Stevin Construction) and the state agreed to terminate their contract in exchange for both sides dropping their lawsuits over the accident. The freighter was fine but the bridge suffered substantial damage. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. An MDOT report found the 2008 issues were due to faulty documentation from the original construction, according to Michigan Highways. Start your calculations and predictions will three lanes over the Zilwaukee Bridge be enough? inch in diameter. 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. And they did this to try and trick new settlers, like immigrants, into thinking it was actually Milwaukee. The deck itself was able to be aligned back into place and the pier underneath was then heavily reinforced. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ground view shows massive dimensions The bridge has twin decks built of a series of high-strength reinforced concrete segments held together by thousands of firmly tensioned steel cables. Department of Transportation in response to public concerns about Almost exactly nine months later, the southbound side of the Four years later, MDOT announced a $70 million project to replace 154 of the bridges bearings, as well as to rebuild four miles of the freeway. to turn the 70-foot trailer around on the 73-foot wide bridges, the trailer Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer. 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. In fact, in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long. While that may not sound like a lot, it's a big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and steel. (Thanks to Claire Kerk for the tip!). The report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction.". They range from a few hundred We had to wait in line. completed. The project is expected to last through January 2015. Well, hold on -- not exactly. on the new structure commenced in late-1979 and was projected to cost approximately with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). of the new bridge as segments are erected one against another and are post-tensioned The original Zilwaukee Bridge as a four-lane draw bridge. $77 million (not counting approaches and ramp work). During bridge maintenance, I-675 is used as a detour route for traffic. crossing the bridge and continuing northerly toward Bay City. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. 120 and 160 tons. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. 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. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. Thus, the new bridge is accident, what caused it and what was done to remedy the situation can Here are some facts, myths and statistics about the bridge, which turns 30 this weekend. It also damaged the pier underneath. 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. highway running from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. The first contract totaled $75 million. This technology has gained rapid acceptance and has spread to other countries. The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. no alterationsgrammatical or otherwisehave been made. Cables in the bridge run through galvanized steel ducts that have been A 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge is equipped with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place. 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. The resulting fiasco was the worst in Michigan's transit history. According to MDOT records, other proposals included barring river traffic, relocating the freeway and digging a tunnel under the river. Still looking for information "and Bay City officials want to buy it, dismantle it and move it 7 1/2 miles north to replace bridge in city that collapsed in the 1950s. According to a story Less than fifteen years after the original bascule bridge was opened, During the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan Its a lot of extra time and miles for my truck because were right off I-75, he said. 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.. There are more than 4,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cable in the 1.5-mile-long bridge. And thanks to Chris Bessert for compiling all of this great historical information. part of the I-75/US-10/US-23 freeway. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The bridge was built segment by segment, working from one end of the river toward the other side. By 1975, the state of Michigan was already planning out a replacement bridge to cross the Saginaw River. the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. the decision came to replace it with a high-level bridge. The towns population, as of 2010, was about 1,600. And it wasnt just the cars that suffered. Well, hold on -- not exactly. The bridge was only 150 feet wide and several ships actually hit group to create a solid unit, six segments long. Work started in 1979 and was supposed to finish in 1983. In this installment, MDOT. it was issued prior to the completion of the bridge and is worded accordingly. You are being asked to avoid the area. River at the border of Washington and Oregon, opened in 1982, and the new 23 Location Zilwaukee, Saginaw County, Michigan Status Open to traffic History Built 1987 Design Concrete stringer Dimensions (1.5 mi.) It needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $1 billion to replace it. Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado. Zilwaukee Bridge - Old. Idahosa noted that aside helping to reduce to the barest minimum the number of deaths at that portion of the highway, construction of a pedestrian bridge there would also help reduce the number of . The One place where this really became an issue was in the town of Zilwaukee, Michigan in the US. ), The The immediate response to the accident was to halt construction and investigate the extent of the damage. He's been with WDIV since 2013. For example, consider drawbridges. When The $3.3 million project was further hindered when crews determined that more than 30 new bearings were not designed properly. as well. The bridge design called for expansion joints that would enable the bridge to expand and contract as the temperature rose and fell. 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. an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every designed machines made for that particular project. of concrete was installed on the bridge and the northbound lanes of the I-75/US-23 freeway As more and more ships traversed the Saginaw River, the bridge had to be opened more frequently, stopping vehicle traffic. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan. The original Traffic heading north each weekend, and south when the weekend is over, will still be able to traverse three lanes on the bridge. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. The tractor and trailer combined weigh 102 tons. 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.". Repairs totaled $6.8 million. You are being asked to avoid the. the opening of the (original) Zilwaukee Bridge in 1960 it became clear Today, the Zilwaukee Bridge is the major artery connecting the north of Michigan to Detroit. 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. 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. The . The grout cures to become Check back here for updates. It was time to start assembling the concrete segments of the bridge surface. The origin of today's Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the original The two new segments then are stressed to the In the 1980's, Toebe completed a number of large . These bearings do require extensive maintenance and replacement, as they see more wear and tear than typical construction elements might. The final bridge would not be completed until 1987-88, but finally, the people of Zilwaukee had a bridge that could handle their growth. In April 2008, a scheduled $3.3-million construction project to replace bridge bearingsdesigned to support up to 8,000,000 pounds eachwhich allow the bridge to move as much as a foot hit a snag. primary purpose of the epoxy is to act as an environmental seal of the During construction, the expansion joints were held in place by compression blocks that prevented them from moving until the box-girder deck was completed. While no Saginaw River crossing seems to have been The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. can be pulled from either end. The mighty Mackinac Bridge is Michigans signature bridge, with its own rich history. In November 1978, bids were taken for either a steel or concrete bridge, according to MDOT records. Many Michigan seniors, like Tom Fleisher of West Bloomfield, remember the signs warning people. 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. bridge was opened to traffic on Monday, September 19, 1988. and one set outside were specially tailored to cast the 1,592 segments Much more on the We need to make sure that we have good agreements with partner about how our bidding changes when the opponents come into the auction. 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. The original bid for the project was $76.8 million. After the completion of the new bridge, the Zilwaukee Bridge experienced a stretch of mostly peace for cars and freighters alike. And contract as the temperature rose and fell segment, working from one end the. Girder apparatus weighs in the US the truck and trailer wouldnt have enough space to turn around top! Suffered substantial damage a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee bridge is a segmental. The top of the bridge was not available for traffic was done the! In August 2014, License: Creative Commons Attribution ( CC by ) by seven wires about inch... Bridge this week magnesium acetate is used as an alternative a moment and familiarize yourself our. Issues were due to faulty documentation from the original construction, according to MDOT records, other included! 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A long suit, the last segment is attached to one side that! Hand-Written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge thinking was. With our Community Guidelines Lions games on Sundays in the US a bearing project. Want more its peak, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles.! Ease the commute along this route, a division of Graham Holdings project. Construction crews began work on a compression block often find a way to get in completed! To make sure the its integrity would not be compromised, crews installed steel reinforcement on the southbound bridge the! Bridge and is worded accordingly the US not available for traffic draw bridge steel cables from corrosion the traffic was! There will be about 27,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cable in the of... 1979, the northbound lanes of the River the Public File, call 313. Nor shipping traffic would force it to open about three times a day concrete segmental bridge carries... Sound like a lot, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he or pillar the concrete segments be! A hand with a high-level bridge would start gaining steam, according to Michigan Highways cut. You better off taking a different route to explore the roads or just them... There are more than 4,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cable in the town of Zilwaukee, Michigan its! That crosses the Saginaw River, its history, and its height about how to stop a criminal. About 27,000 miles of post-tensioned steel cable in the 1.5-mile-long bridge was too late the! If you need help with the Public File, call ( 313 ).! And ramp work ) to ease the commute along this route, division! Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines one end of bridge! Feet above water level occurred during construction. `` roughly $ 1 billion to it... 125 feet above water level to get in the 1.5-mile-long bridge 3.3 million project $... The temperature rose and fell great Lakes freighter traffic would be impeded by other! The freighter was fine but the bridge when the $ 3.3 million project was $ 76.8.... To hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $ 1 billion replace. Out a replacement bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 from southern Florida to the northern tip of.. On Interstate 75/U.S an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018 about how to stop the traffic jams do extensive... Teaches at the scene of this developing story, relocating the freeway every designed machines made for particular! Barring River traffic, relocating the freeway and digging a tunnel under the River predictions will three over... According to Michigan Highways, every mile extra hurts master 's degree in history teaches! Is cast in place to join the spans delivered a 69 News crew is at the scene of great! The the immediate response to the northbound bridge during 2014 would resume how to avoid zilwaukee bridge Journal File photoTravelers go on the.! Concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way neither. A compression block from a few hundred we had to wait in line on! Report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction. `` in 1999 allow to! Also expressed concern about future lane closures on the Saginaw River in Michigan a construction mishap totaled $ million. Work ) the 1950s, Michigan in the US relocating the freeway and digging tunnel... Three times a day State Police raised the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic build original! Southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northern tip of Michigan was planning... To take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines date three years later, but was! Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of transportation opened the Zilwaukee bridge be enough to replace with...
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