Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge

The Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge is a bridge located on Gibraltar Road over the Waterway Canal in Gibraltar, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[1][2]

Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge
LocationGibraltar Road over Waterway Canal, Gibraltar, Michigan
Coordinates42°5′42″N 83°11′26″W
Area0.9 acres (0.36 ha)
Built1932
ArchitectWayne County Road Commission
Architectural styleT-beam bridge
MPSHighway Bridges of Michigan MPS
NRHP reference No.00000082[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 10, 2000

History

The Wayne County Road Commission paved a section of Gibraltar Road in the early 1930s, and constructed a number of new bridges, including this one, during the project.[3]

Description
Bridge deck

The Gibraltar Road Bridge is a reinforced-concrete cantilevered-arch bridge[3] measuring 98 feet (30 m) long and 38 feet (12 m) wide, with a span length of 52 feet (16 m) and a roadway width of 53 feet (16 m).[2] A concrete balustrade with urn-shaped spindles flanks the roadway.[2]

The bridge itself is of a rare cantilevered concrete arch design.[4] The traditional arch bridge design requires a complete arch; in contrast, the cantilevered arch design is divided into two structurally independent half-arches which are each cantilevered from one side.[4] A slab is suspended between the two cantilevered sections; in the Gibraltar Road Bridge, this section is 9 feet long.[4] Close inspection of side walls of the bridge reveals two seams marking the end of the cantilevered arms.[4]

After construction, the Wayne County Road Commissioners noted that "this low sweeping arch bridge is in keeping with its surroundings and is one of the features which make Gibraltar Road so attractive."[3]

See also
  •  Michigan portal
  •  National Register of Historic Places portal

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  2. Staff. "Gibraltar Road Bridge". Historic Sites Online. Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  3. Staff (May 20, 2002). "Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge". Michigan's Historic Bridges. Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  4. "Middle Gibraltar Road Bridge". HistoricBridges.org. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
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