Bridge Street Bridge, also known as Veterans Memorial Bridge, is a two-span
Pratt through truss
A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements, typically straight, may be stressed from tension (mechanics), tensio ...
bridge that crosses the
Grand River in
Portland, Michigan
Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,796 at the 2020 Census. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township and is known as the "City of Two Rivers" since it is the confl ...
, in the United States. Completed in 1890, it is the oldest known surviving example of a truss bridge built in the state by the
Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Company.
Within Portland, the bridge has historically been known as the "Upper Bridge" to distinguish it from the "Lower Bridge" crossing at Grand River Avenue, which is located approximately downstream. Fabricated from iron and steel, Bridge Street Bridge replaced a wooden bridge that had been built at the same site in 1837–1838.
After being damaged by ice flows in the river, Bridge Street Bridge was closed to truck traffic in 1952. It was subsequently closed to all vehicular traffic in 1978 as a result of continued deterioration. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1990 using Critical Bridge funds from the
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is a constitutional government principal department of the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interst ...
and the
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...
, marking the first time that the state had used these funds for bridge restoration instead of bridge replacement.
Today the single-lane Bridge Street Bridge is open to vehicular traffic with a weight limit of and operates one-way in the eastbound direction; a pedestrian walkway runs along the north side of the bridge. Other vehicles crossing the river in Portland use the bridge at Grand River Avenue, which carries two-way traffic.
Bridge Street Bridge was designated as a Michigan Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a tax-exempt professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, it is the oldest national engineering soci ...
in 1991. The structure is included within the
Portland Downtown Historic District.
See also
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References
External links
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1890 establishments in Michigan
Bridges completed in 1890
Buildings and structures in Ionia County, Michigan
Historic American Engineering Record in Michigan
Metal bridges in the United States
Pratt truss bridges in the United States
Road bridges in Michigan
Historic district contributing properties in Michigan
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