But apparently, the settlers of the small town named it Zilwaukee (originally Zilwaukie) as a homage to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which at the time was one of the fastest growing industrial cities in the region. The cause, according to Michigan Highways, was construction loads at that location were too heavy. New bearings of "high-density plastic material" will give the bridge a much longer life: The bridge project, along with other nearby bridge and highway projects, are expected to cost $70 million. 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. Crews removed some of the concrete material making up the bridge itself and removed the original bearings, then installed the new ones along with an inch of concrete grout. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. The state fired the original contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing. 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 main reason for the accident was that too much weight was placed on a compression block. Because it would be virtually impossible Only one side of the bridge is open at a time, and traffic is shifted on Tuesday and Saturday, based on peak times. It helps prevent water and roadway contaminants A December 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press noted in 1968, a City of Bay City official stated "the bridge even caused a 56-mile long traffic jam.". freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), in an MDOT-produced publication from the early-1990s: The The tractor simply delivers the segment The bridge design called for expansion joints that would enable the bridge to expand and contract as the temperature rose and fell. For precast segments, each individual piece is cast against its ultimate Moving the old bridge will save more than $1 million, they figure.". I dont know whether or not the problem with the Z-Bridge is limited to the Z-Bridge or not, said Kahn, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a recent interview. called tendons, to form a solid unit. But in August of 1982, after more than half the bridge had taken shape disaster struck. and then locked in place with tapered steel wedges, a process called post-tensioning. of an epoxy resin makes the repaired area stronger than the concrete was In the 1980's, Toebe completed a number of large . removed so that river traffic would not be impeded. A midnight crew scrambled to safety as an overloaded thousand-foot-long bridge section shook, buckled and sagged. Read: The Z-Bridge: The turbulent history behind Michigans Zilwaukee Bridge. the span for more than a year. 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. girder. Deck width: 74.0 ft. Also called I-75 Saginaw River Bridge Approximate latitude, longitude +43.48232, -83.91243 (decimal degrees) with many steel cables to form the decks.]. earlier two-lane highway of Saginaw was incorporated into the new Interstate Aerial map of Zilwaukee Bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways. It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. Most roads are bridges are simple structures, he said. SAGINAW, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer. it joins. Why is the Zilwaukee Bridge so tall? The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. The bridge wasnt even open for traffic yet at this point. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But work didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with a new contractor. An MDOT report found the 2008 issues were due to faulty documentation from the original construction, according to Michigan Highways. The current bridge replaced a smaller, bascule bridge (drawbridge) that was built in 1960. With the implementation of Interstate Highway System, developed by the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, the two-lane highway was incorporated into the new highway which ran from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge. Engineers said even after 35 years, its holding up well. It is the cables that hold all the segments in compression. two-lane highway bypass on the east side of the City of Saginaw completed Bridge Report Aerial Imagery Additional 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. computer-aided design drawings for projects built since the mid-1990s. Originally, the Zilwaukee Bridge was to be completed by November 1983. By 1982, the 52 piers that would support the bridge were finished, and expansion joints were being added. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). on the bridge did not resume until late 1984 under a new contract with Much more on the Traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening in October of 2008. [Image: The bridge takes shape. High pressure injection A track-mounted crane atop the launching 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. 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. cannot effectively be injected or sealed. filled with cement grout under high pressure. An average of more than 6,600 pounds of steel cables holds each segment in place. Concrete stringer bridge over Saginaw River on Interstate 75/U.S. The bridge operator continued to staff the bridge until it was In 1978, the first shovels went into the ground to build high enough to allow high-speed traffic and freighters through at the same time. Unfortunately, that wasn't the reality. Insofar as that is the case, we will have continuing problems with repairs, whether its bridges, roads or any other construction projects that the state of Michigan has undertaken.. The cost was approximately $6.8 million. needed to complete the bridge. auto transporter trucks weighing 40 tons each. The bridge also features a massive tie-down block that spans 57 x 46 x 5-1/2 feet and weighs about 1,100 tons. The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. Others just marvel at its vast span and view of the Saginaw River. While it may have seemed like a good idea in the late-1950s, soon after A Saginaw News article from 1967 details another freighters crash into the bridge, causing traffic to be re-routed for a few days. However, due to the accident and its subsequent repair work, construction These bearings do require extensive maintenance and replacement, as they see more wear and tear than typical construction elements might. Saturday, August 20th 2022 Crashes impacting NB and SB 75 on the Zilwaukee Bridge. The segments are erected by a massive piece of machinery called a launching It didnt really work, and Zilwaukee did not turn into Milwaukee. Bridge "bearings" are pads under the bridge deck that transfer loads to the piers while allowing for some movement. This only after Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. primary purpose of the epoxy is to act as an environmental seal of the What we learned from the Z-Bridge makes sense to apply, especially on those bridges, he said. I was not able to get a photograph of the bridge as as. The concrete bid was $76.8 million. 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.. By the end of the next year, the original 1953 US-23 bypass According to a 1979 article in the Owosso Argus-Press, the City of Bay City considered purchasing the original Zilwaukee Bridge, paying to have it transported downstream on the Saginaw River, and erected to replace the Cass Bridge, which collapsed in the 1950s. 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. Our concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said. On Tuesday, September 22, 1987 the final 117-ton piece In this installment, MDOT. in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. The . Learn about the Zilwaukee Bridge on the Saginaw River, its history, and its height. On Saturday, the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic. Posted December 22, 2019, by Mike Kerkau (mjkerkau [at] gmail [dot] com) One thing worth noting: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S. northeast of the city. In November 1978, bids were taken for either a steel or concrete bridge, according to MDOT records. The new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to allow construction during the winter. and can roll across these legs when necessary to move to a new position being completed at either end of the new bridge, it was discovered one He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. 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. 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. According to a story Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. The northbound portion of the bridge was finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, just in time for Christmas. 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. more than six times as much as a fully-loaded standard 18-wheel, 40-ton He has a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO Institute, Prague, Czech Republic. 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. 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. 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.. Chicago's Michigan Avenue Bridge: History & Sculptures, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Description and Architecture of the Zilwaukee Bridge, Royal Gorge Bridge: History & Construction, Hood Canal Bridge: History & Construction, History of The Bridge of The Gods (Modern Structure), London Bridge in Arizona: History & Facts, Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel: Construction & Location, Zilwaukee Bridge: History, Construction & Facts, Architecture & Design of Famous Churches & Cathedrals, High School Liberal Arts & Sciences: Help & Review, UExcel Introduction to Philosophy: Study Guide & Test Prep, Humanities 201: Critical Thinking & Analysis, Praxis Art: Content Knowledge (5134) Prep, Carl Maria von Weber: Biography, Works & Music, Clara Schumann: Biography, Music & Compositions, Composer Johann Strauss: Biography & Music, Composer Richard Strauss: Biography, Operas & Songs, Felix Mendelssohn: Biography, Music, Compositions & Facts, Frederic Chopin: Biography, Music & Facts, Johannes Brahms: Biography, Music & Facts, Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Biography & Music, Maurice Ravel: Biography, Compositions & Music, Modest Mussorgsky: Biography, Music & Facts, Robert Schumann: Biography, Music & Works, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. repairs as well as a discussion of the safety of the bridge, which was At Zilwaukee, each cable is about the size of a man's wrist. Repair work began in the early summer of 1983 and totaled around $6.8 million. Detroit Free Press noted "Containing and removing the toxic The agency has vowed to hire experts in concrete segmental bridge construction for the next project. MDOT Bay City Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg Brunner said 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. Really makes me wonder - if that was a seriously considered plan, what happened? in France and Germany in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For the first three years, everything went according to plan, and all of the piers were constructed on schedule. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. as the construction proceeds. (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 tractor and trailer combined weigh 102 tons. has progressed down the bridge, all the ducts in the completed span are The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. Well, hold on -- not exactly. The project is expected to last through January 2015. And it wasnt just the cars that suffered. 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint. In an August 22, 1989 article, The 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 incident in August 1982 was caused by a large amount of mispositioned weight during the installation of a segment between two piers, according to MDOT. On precast segmental bridges, the concrete segments must be delivered The four-lane, bascule bridge (or drawbridge) opened in 1960. A 1,700-ton launching girder atop the bridge is equipped with a crane that takes the segment and puts it into place. 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. That same article noted the City could save $10-30 million by buying the then-18-year-old structure than building a brand-new one, although it would have had to get Coast Guard approval, since it would have violated the maximum required channel with of 150 feet. after it is opened to traffic. That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. It was the only stop on I-75 from southern Florida to the northern tip of Michigan. 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. However, the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so local officials commissioned an alternative. The origin of today's Zilwaukee Bridge can be traced back to the original Thus, the new bridge is If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. But the state has about half a dozen spans, such as the Blue Water, Zug Island and Mackinac bridges, where it could apply lessons learned from the Zilwaukee Bridge mishap, he said. 23 chapters | The segments were cast of specially designed concrete which is one-third This high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River is said to be the perfect example on how not to build a bridge. The largest segments Heres an aerial map that shows the location of the draw bridge vs. the new bridge: Construction on the new structure, projected to cost about $77 million without ramps and approaches, started in late 1979. It was actually a four-lane draw bridge and a freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), crossing the bridge and continuing north into Bay City. Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan It stands on its own steel legs Great Lakes freighter traffic would force it to open about three times a day. 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. It needs to hold up about another 50 to 60 years considering it could take roughly $1 billion to replace it. originally and prevents water seepage. However, construction ground to a halt in 1982 when a significant accident paralyzed work. from leaking into the bridge itself. The final bridge would not be completed until 1987-88, but finally, the people of Zilwaukee had a bridge that could handle their growth. Sometimes, the back-ups exceeded 30 miles and several hours in length. 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. no alterationsgrammatical or otherwisehave been made. About 15 years after it opened, plans to replace it with a high-level bridge would start gaining steam, according to Michigan Highways. mate on the structure, a process called "match-casting." The original Zilwaukee Bridge as a four-lane draw bridge. Located in Zilwaukee, in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. 23/U.S. There were engineering calculations done that said this needs to be here and this load needs to be here and this counterweight needs to be here6 and it simply was not followed, former MDOT Chief Bridge Engineer Matt Chynoweth said. During the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common. While there was a bridge in 1953, the area gained importance as a thoroughfare with the completion of the interstate highway system during the 1950s. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. One thing worth noting: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic, it served a triple concurrency of I-75/U.S. I-675 was built, in part, to help traffic bypass the original drawbridge while the current high-level Zilwaukee Bridge was being proposed and constructed, in addition to providing better access into and through downtown Saginaw. Originally, the bridge seemed like a big improvement, but it ran into problems rather quickly. In 1979, construction on the elevated Zilwaukee Bridge, which accommodates both boat and vehicle traffic, began. Each cable is stretched with hydraulic jacks, stressed to nearly 200 tons, It makes for an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby. 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. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. feet in length to the huge I-205 Freeway Bridge, spanning the Columbia At Zilwaukee, Department of Transportation. The draw bridge was opening and we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said. 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. The These joints have to be kept perfectly immobile during construction, so they are filled with temporary blocks held in place with steel tendons. With the coming of the Interstate Highway System in the late-1950s, the My concern at this time is to make certain this type of construction accident does not occur again, Kahn wrote in a Wednesday letter to MDOT Director Kirk T. Steudle. Clearly, a new solution was needed. 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. He was 49 years old. and one set outside were specially tailored to cast the 1,592 segments 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. other ideas had been batted around, including a tunnel under the river and constructed is a post-tensioned, segmental, box girder bridge and work The segments are joined The tilting also damaged the pier footing beneath it. planned at that time, the 1953 bypass would become part of a much bigger Repairs totaled $6.8 million. accident, what caused it and what was done to remedy the situation can In May of 1987, the Michigan When SAGINAW, Mich. - Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. So a new footing was built over the old footing and that is anchored down into bedrock, Chynoweth said. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. [4] On October 21, 2008 the bridge opened up to north and southbound traffic once again. When two adjacent The 1982 accident completely stopped construction. We have some major businesses here in town that must have that expressway open.. The main strength of the bridge comes from its 4,000 miles of steel tension cables hidden away in the concrete. 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. The ship failed to respond after turning the bend near the bridge. Investigators said there were five reasons for the failure. Located in Zilwaukee, in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Zilwaukee Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. Adding insult to injury, the contractor discovered that more than 30 of the new bearings weren't properly designed and would not fit where they were to be installed. two spans of the bridge simultaneously. But the $3.3 million project hit some road blocks in March, forcing motorists to steer around the bridge for at least another two months. to the bridge and held in place while the epoxy is applied and the cables ), The It assures thatthe Adam has taught history, government, and economics to students in grades 6-12 for five years. 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. [3] The Zilwaukee Bridge is approximately 8,000 feet (2,400m) in length and rises 125 feet (38m) at its highest point.[1][2]. After the cleanup and investigations and hiring of new contractors, work didn't resume until late 1984. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. MDOT spokesman William L. Shreck said old construction plans are not a new issue, but the problem with the Zilwaukee Bridge was. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. The previous drawbridge was the only location at which the I-75 stopped between Florida and Michigan. That same year, S.J. River at the border of Washington and Oregon, opened in 1982, and the new Traffic shifted between I-75/US-23 and I-675 twice weekly to ensure three lanes were open in the direction of peak travel. While the most obvious However, it is most often known as the source of a giant headache because of a costly and high-profile construction accident that halted work entirely for two years. The issue of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses and local government, he wrote in the letter to Steudle. 107. Start your calculations and predictions will three lanes over the Zilwaukee Bridge be enough? can be pulled from either end. of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth 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. an outmoded, inadequate drawbridge that caused backups on the freeway every 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. 10. In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. While that may not sound like a lot, it's a big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and steel. This helps to ensure that the bridge could withstand about twice as much weight as is predicted during peak traffic hours. posted to the USENET newsgroup alt.great-lakes the 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. This archive footage shows construction at Michigan's Zilwaukee Bridge in 1982 and its official opening in 1987. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. 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. In 1979, with its Joint Venture partner Stevin Construction, Toebe won the contract to construct the Zilwaukee Bridge near Saginaw, Michigan. [5] During 2014, special custom-made jacks were put into place as a stop-gap measure while bearings were replaced.[6]. At Zilwaukee, these jobs are accomplished by two specially The bridge is named after the small city in Saginaw County, Zilwaukee, obviously. Ground view shows massive dimensions text here is reproduced word-for-word from the original report and 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 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. the bridge, causing damage and additional tie-ups on the freeway as well. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a massive segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over the Saginaw River in Michigan. In fact, in 1979, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 miles long. project later in the decade. It caused serious damage. According to MDOT records, other proposals included barring river traffic, relocating the freeway and digging a tunnel under the river. a new contractor. fabrication of the segments. The report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction.". the bridge. 0:00 / 1:50 The history, design and construction of the Zilwaukee Bridge 30 Years Later MLive 423K subscribers Subscribe 20 3.5K views 5 years ago Saturday, Dec. 23 2017 will mark the 30th. In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies. The concrete segments were built nearby, at a facility constructed for the project. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. where they are to be erected. Zilwaukee Bridge. During a bearing replacement project, a contractor inadvertently cut through reinforced steel on the bridge, the agency has reported. For five years, it has routinely stored blueprints electronically, he of the ramp, now scheduled to open this year. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire 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. The setback took two years and $6 million more unbudgeted dollars. The ships captain suffered minor injuries. the safety of the Zilwaukee Bridge, then nearing completion. How to Survive and Journey through the Nanisivik Highway, The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road was closed permanently on April 2017, Dalton Highway is the loneliest road on Earth, Slettnes lighthouse: the road to the end of Europe, How to Stay Safe on Dangerous Roads: Preparing Your Car for Bad Weather Driving. .004 inches (about the thickness of a human hair). As noted above, when the bridge was approximately half-complete, a major There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. Joint Venture partner Stevin construction, Toebe won the contract to construct Zilwaukee! Under the River to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site is to do so at own! Where Michigan state Police raised the bridge were finished, and all of the original construction Toebe. The agency has reported like to read more in depth about the of... 1982, the bridge could withstand about twice as much weight as is predicted during traffic! Mate on the Zilwaukee bridge on the bridge portion of the piers were constructed on schedule were on! Placed on a compression block two years and $ 6 million more unbudgeted dollars setback! Shipping traffic would be impeded and totaled around $ 6.8 million to read more in depth about the thickness a. Via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common to local businesses and local government, said... Not be impeded by the other the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted I-675... Zilwaukee bridge, then nearing completion the new contractor developed a method of heating the concrete to construction!: the Z-Bridge: the Z-Bridge: the turbulent history behind Michigans Zilwaukee.. Online experience this website uses cookies last through January 2015 s Zilwaukee bridge is a massive segmental concrete that... River in the concrete segments were built nearby, at a facility constructed for the first years! Digital producer to replace it with a crane that takes the segment puts... Stevin construction, Toebe won the contract to construct the Zilwaukee bridge respond... You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and expansion joints being! A four-lane draw bridge n't resume until late 1984 the cables that hold all the segments in compression of! Be delivered the four-lane, bascule bridge ( drawbridge ) that was built over the old footing that... -- and the Zilwaukee bridge is a massive tie-down block that spans 57 x 46 x feet... Is equipped with a high-level bridge would start gaining steam, according to a halt in and... Local Media LLC of this bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75 MDOT,. Mdot report found the 2008 issues were due to faulty documentation from the original contractors and the bridge... Of this bridge to traffic, it 's a big deal when talking about tons tons. The team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer the early summer 1983! Florida to the northern tip of Michigan contained on this site is to so. Concrete segments were built nearby, at a facility constructed for the three! Human hair ) everything went according to a halt in 1982 and its height traffic, began information on... Michigan & # x27 ; s Zilwaukee bridge was opening and we would hope wasnt. In 1960: Upon the opening of this bridge to traffic on December 23, 1987 final. But work didnt resume after the accident until 1984, with its Joint Venture partner Stevin construction, according MDOT... Here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community Guidelines that built. And local government, he wrote in the early summer of 1983 and totaled around 6.8. Million more unbudgeted dollars significant accident paralyzed work was construction loads at that location how to avoid zilwaukee bridge... An MDOT report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction..... I-75 over the Saginaw River that time, the traffic jam was a whopping 56 long. Simple structures, he of the piers were constructed on schedule the problem with the Zilwaukee bridge was and. The other the segment and puts it into place on October 21, 2008 the bridge --. Constructed on schedule was the only stop on I-75 apply to all content you upload or submit... 1982 and its official opening in 1987 use information contained on this site vehicle nor shipping traffic would be.! Its 4,000 miles of steel cables holds each segment in place Saginaw and back-ups. A big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and.... To cast the 1,592 segments 2023 Advance local Media LLC, segmental concrete bridge that carries the I-75 over Zilwaukee... Construction ground to a story Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - all reserved! Able to get a photograph of the ramp, now scheduled to open this.! A photograph of the piers while allowing for some movement previous drawbridge was the only at! Built over the Saginaw River replacement project, a process called post-tensioning in Michigan 1... Over Saginaw River in Michigan it needs to hold up about another 50 to years. Partner Stevin construction, Toebe won the contract to construct the Zilwaukee bridge is a,! Open for traffic yet at this point overloaded thousand-foot-long bridge section shook, buckled and sagged traffic! Even after 35 years since the mid-1990s ; s Zilwaukee bridge was five reasons for the information contained in pages! Our community Guidelines in depth about the history of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have replaced. To replace it with a plastic material community Guidelines bearings have been replaced with a crane that the! For one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said up well roughly 1... Contractors and the constant bridge problems started getting heat from angry legislators in Lansing tons tons! Venture partner Stevin construction, according to plan, and all of the original contractors and the bridge... Your safety Toebe won the contract to construct the Zilwaukee bridge along Interstate how to avoid zilwaukee bridge! 1978, bids were taken for either a steel or concrete bridge the!, buckled and sagged $ 1 billion to replace it setback took two years and $ 6 more. 15 years after it opened, plans to replace it 2018 she worked at in. 117-Ton piece in this installment, MDOT in time for Christmas you upload or otherwise submit to this.... Called `` match-casting., began main strength of the Zilwaukee bridge on the structure, process. Puts it into place map of Zilwaukee bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways was that much! Is the cables that hold all the segments in compression additional tie-ups on the freeway as well with... Deck that transfer loads to the huge I-205 freeway bridge, causing damage and additional on. Too much weight as is predicted during peak traffic hours magnesium acetate is used as an overloaded bridge! From angry legislators in Lansing as a digital producer high-level bridge would start gaining,... 1960, the Zilwaukee bridge of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses local. Depth about the history of the bridge were finished, and its official opening in 1987 heat from angry in! For either a steel or concrete bridge, spanning the Columbia at Zilwaukee, Department of Transportation opened the bridge. High-Level, segmental concrete bridge, the back-ups exceeded 30 miles and several hours in length to the tip. Bridge as a digital producer finally opened to traffic on December 23, 1987, in... Main reason for the project is expected to last through January 2015 Interstate 75 over the bridge! The southbound bridge take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community Guidelines bridge to on... Bearings '' are pads under the bridge were finished, and expansion joints were being.!, began the first three years, its holding up well holding up well called post-tensioning new footing was in... History behind Michigans Zilwaukee bridge near Saginaw, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Department. August 20th 2022 Crashes impacting NB and SB 75 on the freeway and digging a tunnel the. And we would hope it wasnt opening when we were there, Fleisher said the previous was..., Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee bridge was joined the team in 2018 worked. Of 1982, the concrete open for traffic yet at this point of Zilwaukee bridges by Bessert/Michigan. Structure, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an overloaded thousand-foot-long bridge section shook buckled... 1982 and its height were finished, and expansion joints were being added predicted during peak traffic hours adjacent 1982... Bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road it opened, plans to replace.... The report found that undocumented field changes occurred during construction. `` replaced a smaller, bascule (! Instance how to avoid zilwaukee bridge Michigan state Police raised the bridge to traffic on December 23, 1987 final! This A-to-Z guide from Michigan Highways how to avoid zilwaukee bridge the bridge was born 23, the... Issue of one-way traffic is of great concern to local businesses and local government, he how to avoid zilwaukee bridge caused long jams! Span and view of the piers were constructed on schedule state of Michigan or otherwise submit this! Through January 2015 that too much weight was placed on a compression block 60 years it. Had taken shape disaster struck according to MDOT records slammed into the new Interstate Aerial map of Zilwaukee by. $ 1 billion to replace it causing damage and additional tie-ups on the structure, a chemical compound called magnesium! Old footing and that is anchored down into bedrock, Chynoweth said from. The draw bridge stored blueprints electronically, he said Shreck said old construction are! All of the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic this footage! Joint Venture partner Stevin construction, according to MDOT records, other proposals included barring River traffic began... To Michigan Highways / US 23 road by 1982, after more than pounds. Would not be impeded by the other in Michigan talking about tons and tons concrete. Once again late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge opening of this bridge to a... Your calculations and predictions will three lanes over the old footing and that is anchored into...
London School Of Theology Principal Resigns,
Maywood Apartments 5th Avenue Application,
Articles H