Grand Rapids Swing Bridge

The Grand Rapids Swing Bridge is a four span Pratt truss railroad swing bridge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was built in 1902 for the Pere Marquette Railroad as a swing bridge to allow steamboats to pass up the Grand River, but this river traffic was discontinued in 1907.[1] The turntable is rusted shut and currently inoperable.[2] Originally it was built as a double track bridge, but one set of tracks has been removed. The bridge itself is still in use, and carries an Amtrak train which runs from the Amtrak station just east of the bridge, as well as CSX freight trains. In crossing the Grand River, it touches the south end of a small island.

Grand Rapids Swing Bridge
turntable of the bridge
Coordinates42°57′29″N 85°40′50″W
CarriesAmtrak, CSX
CrossesGrand River
LocaleGrand Rapids, Michigan
Other name(s)Pere Marquette/C&O/CSX Railroad Bridge
Preceded byChicago and West Michigan Railroad Bridge 1882
Characteristics
Designswing Pratt truss
Materialsteel
Width30 feet
No. of spans4
Clearance above19.2 feet at low water, closed
History
Constructed byAmerican Bridge Company
Construction start1901/1902/1908/1922
Construction end1901/1903/1908/1922

References

  1. "Grand Rapids Swing Bridge". Historic Bridges. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  2. Bajema, Carl. "Grand Rapids Railroad Bridges Spanning the Grand River". Archived from the original on 3 November 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
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