As more and more ships traversed the Saginaw River, the bridge had to be opened more frequently, stopping vehicle traffic. and then locked in place with tapered steel wedges, a process called post-tensioning. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. For example, consider drawbridges. Additionally, MDOT performed bridge deck surface repairs and a sealer overlay was applied along with repairs to some of the barriers, lighting systems and other electrial repairs. 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. On August 28, the temporary compression blocks started to crush, and a 300-foot-long bridge section sagged five feet on one end and three-and-a-half feet at the other. 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. 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. While the most obvious $77 million (not counting approaches and ramp work). The final bridge would not be completed until 1987-88, but finally, the people of Zilwaukee had a bridge that could handle their growth. Almost exactly nine months later, the southbound side of the 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. project later in the decade. be found in Section Unfortunately, shipping increased fourfold in the early 1960s; and each time the drawbridge opened, cars would back up for miles. Of Related: The story of Metro Detroits Cold War nuclear missile defense system: The original homeland security. Six steps were required to bring the tilted 300-foot deck section back to its intened position. The Zilwauke Bridge is so high because it must allow boats to past. SAGINAW, Mich. Friday marks 35 years since the Michigan Department of Transportation opened the Zilwaukee Bridge. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Posted July 9, 2019, by Melissa Brand-Welch, National Bridge Inventory 2021: (Nearby Bridges), Bridgehunter.com: Historic Bridges of the United States, http://bridgehunter.com/mi/saginaw/saginaw-river/, July 9, 2019: New photo from Melissa Brand-Welch, November 13, 2018: New photo from Douglas Butler, October 6, 2018: New photos from Douglas Butler, August 6, 2014: New Street View added by Douglas Butler. Its a stretch many who live in Metro Detroit are familiar with as a passage for a trip to Northern Michigan, perhaps for Memorial Day or Labor Day. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level bridge carrying I-75 (and U.S. 23) over the Saginaw River at Zilwaukee. in the early-1980s which added many millions to the cost and years to the 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. two spans of the bridge simultaneously. It tried to drop an anchor, but it was too late -- the ship slammed into the southbound bridge. The project is expected to last through January 2015. While that may not sound like a lot, it's a big deal when talking about tons and tons of concrete and steel. of the Zilwaukee Bridge, the details on the accident and the attendant He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. Around 21 million vehicles a year ride up and over the Saginaw River. As an aid in joining each precast piece to its mate, high-strength epoxy (MDOT/Michigan Highways). Segments When two adjacent But in the 1980s, the Zilwaukee Bridge controversially turned into Michigans most expensive. 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. The southbound lanes opened in the fall of 1988, at which point the old bascule bridge was officially closed. following pages reproduce a 1987 report issued by the Michigan 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. [5] During 2014, special custom-made jacks were put into place as a stop-gap measure while bearings were replaced.[6]. The bearingsdesigned to support up to 8 million pounds eachrequire replacement because of normal wear and tear since the bridge's opening in 1987. a new contractor. construction accident halted all work in August 1982. It was only 150 feet wide and several ships ended up clipping the bridge, causing damage and even more traffic issues. To make sure the its integrity would not be compromised, crews installed steel reinforcement on the bridge's exterior. Many more steel tendons are stressed at this time to make the two spans The $3.3 million project was further hindered when crews determined that more than 30 new bearings were not designed properly. trained, four-person team to ensure that they met predetermined standards Investigators found that much of the bridge was sound, but some of the pier columns needed to be reinforced before work could continue. Adam has taught history, government, and economics to students in grades 6-12 for five years. The original Zilwaukee Bridge as a four-lane draw bridge. In 2008, a $3.3 million construction project to replace bridge bearings hit a snag. The present structure was designed to relieve traffic congestion along the freeway crossing it, resulting from repeated openings of the draw span for lake freighter traffic serving industrial sites along the river. Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Tampa, Fla., opened in 1987. 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. And they did this to try and trick new settlers, like immigrants, into thinking it was actually Milwaukee. This helps to ensure that the bridge could withstand about twice as much weight as is predicted during peak traffic hours. 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. Department of Transportation, Zilwaukee Bridge: 2/24/2018 Aleana W. It's a iconic MI bridge. the safety of the Zilwaukee Bridge, then nearing completion. 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. Sometimes the bridge would open without much warning, causing cars to crash while trying to slow down. The so-called balanced cantilever construction went way out of balance. Moving the old bridge will save more than $1 million, they figure.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Here are some facts, myths and statistics about the bridge, which turns 30 this weekend. From MDOT: New guidelines recommend early, aggressive treatment for childhood obesity, Deaf student's Michigan lawsuit at center of Supreme Court case, Michigan secretary of state outlines policy hopes for legislative session, State survey: UP wolf population stable, may have reached capacity, Michigan to begin distributing $81 million opioid settlement money, How an 'anti-planner' helps artist with ADHD get stuff done, Price tag for keeping the Zilwaukee Bridge clear of ice and snow, I-75 North will continue across the bridge, I-75 South will shift onto I-75 northbound lanes and over the bridge. However, the bridge caused long traffic jams whenever it opened, so local officials commissioned an alternative. consisted of the new four-lane, double-leaf bascule (draw) bridge and a If not replaced, the normal shifting movements of the bridge would cause additional damage, thus reducing its lifespan. Brunner said MDOT will meet with government officials and business owners to review traffic patterns before construction begins. part of the I-75/US-10/US-23 freeway. traffic. It was thought that this would accommodate both boat and vehicle traffic. 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. [3] The Zilwaukee Bridge is approximately 8,000 feet (2,400m) in length and rises 125 feet (38m) at its highest point.[1][2]. 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 current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule bridge constructed in 1960. 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. Many of the original stainless steel and teflon bearings have been replaced with a plastic material. Periodically flooded roads around the world. 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. In this installment, MDOT. Others just marvel at its vast span and view of the Saginaw River. 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. in an MDOT-produced publication from the early-1990s: The 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. Bridge Report Aerial Imagery Additional are installed. It makes for an imposing sight, and the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park sits nearby. had also been converted to full freeway with overpasses and interchanges Construction on the new Zilwaukee Bridge began in 1979. He has a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO Institute, Prague, Czech Republic. concrete segment onto the bridge, is the equivalent of 49 fully-loaded While the remaining ramp connections were The Zilwaukee Bridge along Interstate 75 over the Saginaw River. The segments are erected by a massive piece of machinery called a launching Saturday, August 20th 2022 Crashes impacting NB and SB 75 on the Zilwaukee Bridge. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire in the completed 1.5-mile-long bridge. 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. 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. 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. subjected every day to far heavier weights than it will ever experience to build than steel bridges and less expensive to maintain because of corrosion from leaking into the bridge itself. 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. After the termination of the original contract, the state found a new contractor to continue work. 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. to the bridge and held in place while the epoxy is applied and the cables On Saturday, the bridge has three southbound lanes, while northbound traffic. 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. 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. 4: The Accident in The 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. 13. In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. The Saginaw News reported on the price tag to keep the Zilwaukee Bridge free of snow and ice.The don't use cheap salt which would result in corrosion of. 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. It also damaged the pier underneath. Groves and Sons Company was the low bidder on a contract to complete the remaining bridge, and they engaged T.Y. new eastern bypass of Saginaw for through US-23 traffic, A 1960 article in the Lansing State Journal reported about a German-registry lake freighter, carrying 4,300 tons of scrap steel, slamming into the draw bridge after the bridge was jammed in the open position. This drawbridge was meant to ease congestion, but made it worse as both vehicle and shipping traffic drastically increased. the bridge was completed and the back-ups on the freeway reached three In 1979, construction started on a new, elevated bridge that ships could simply pass underneath. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Thus, the new bridge is 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. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. I feel like its a lifeline. The effect caused one side of the 300-foot-long section of bridge deck to sag and the other to rise. When the balanced group of four segments is in place, a segment is again The Department followed rigid procedures for quality control during the 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.. Engineers said even after 35 years, its holding up well. 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. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. By 1982, the 52 piers that would support the bridge were finished, and expansion joints were being added. 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.. The mighty Mackinac Bridge is Michigans signature bridge, with its own rich history. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. A report released by MDOT in December 2010 noted the problems with the 2008 project were due to faulty documentation from the bridge's original construction. The original Zilwaukee Bridge ended up causing more traffic than it eased, due to the fact that commuters in both directions had to stop whenever the drawbridge opened. The incident added many years to the projected completion of the new bridge. And thanks to Chris Bessert for compiling all of this great historical information. Each is formed by 12 strands of steel cable, and each strand is formed by seven wires about one-eighth inch in diameter. Repairs totaled $6.8 million. Though some have speculated that the bridge was glued together, theyre not entirely far off. In April 2008, work crews replacing bridge bearings unexpectedly drilled into several reinforcing steel bars in the bridge. 120 and 160 tons. 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. 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. Start your calculations and predictions will three lanes over the Zilwaukee Bridge be enough? Read about the Zilwaukee Bridge collapse in 1982 and its reconstruction. The accident delayed construction for over 2 years.Pic: http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. 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. [4] On October 21, 2008 the bridge opened up to north and southbound traffic once again. And it wasnt just the cars that suffered. planned at that time, the 1953 bypass would become part of a much bigger The state spent $120 million to build the bridge but design problems and long delays left everyone uncertain it would ever get used. The best, most concise description of the Zilwaukee Bridge can be found Michigan Highways > In Depth: The Zilwaukee Bridge, Page Contents: History The Replacement & Accident Ongoing Maintenance Zilwaukee The original bridge routed traffic through the small city of Saginaw. 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. With the coming of the Interstate Highway System in the late-1950s, the since the bridges construction in the 1980s, the agency has used northeast of the city. Construction begins by placing two segments directly atop a bridge pier, after it is opened to traffic. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 across the bridge, closed since Feb. 18, 2008, to replace bearings that allow it to expand and contract in changing weather, were due to reopen by the end of March. The 1982 accident completely stopped construction. Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado. During the six-month shutdown, traffic was rerouted via I-675 through downtown Saginaw and massive back-ups were common. In November 1978, bids were taken for either a steel or concrete bridge, according to MDOT records. In 1975, transit officials decided to build a high-level bridge over the river. The bridge design called for expansion joints that would enable the bridge to expand and contract as the temperature rose and fell. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. freeway beginning at the northern end of the 1953 bypass (at present-day M-13), It may not have been the easiest transition, but growing pains are often parts of getting bigger. 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. Chynoweth noted the new bearings would double the Zilwaukee Bridge's lifespan to a now-predicted 100 years, or through 2087. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. In August of 1982, just one year before the bridge was supposed to be completed, one of the temporary compression blocks failed and collapsed. (Please remember while reading the report, before being installed. in the first place. Authorities chose the lower-cost option. I believe it was demolished in 1989. The previous drawbridge was the only location at which the I-75 stopped between Florida and Michigan. Our concern is if they shut it down for one year in each way, it could have a major impact, Jolin said. After the cleanup and investigations and hiring of new contractors, work didn't resume until late 1984. The Zilwaukee Bridge exists as an alternative to the federal governments original I-75 design. It took several hours for tugs to move the ship back into Saginaw Bay. Top top it off, shipping traffic actually quadrupled in the years after 23 Location Zilwaukee, Saginaw County, Michigan Status Open to traffic History Built 1987 Design Concrete stringer Dimensions (1.5 mi.) The new bearings should last anywhere from 25 to 50 years, or possibly even longer, he said. http://media.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/photo/zilwaukee-bridge-bbec235072ccfec4.jpg. 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. And the final contract to complete the bridge after a construction mishap totaled $38 million. 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. An average of more than 6,600 pounds of steel cables holds each segment in place. 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. Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Planner Professional. The weight of the launching girder, combined with the truck carrying a 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. Boat traffic was also backed up on the river, as shipping traffic quadrupled in the years after the bridge opened. Construction crews began work on a major renovation project on the Zilwaukee Bridge this week. removed so that river traffic would not be impeded. All rights reserved (About Us). It assures thatthe "From the 'as built' plans for the bridge, the only steel that was expected to be encountered were smaller steel bars," said Bay Region Engineer Robert Ranck. The worst back-ups, of course, occurred during TIL of Zilwaukee, a town in northern Michigan. 23 chapters | 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. through downtown as the through route. Create an account to start this course today. crossing the bridge and continuing northerly toward Bay City. A track-mounted crane atop the launching of concrete was installed on the bridge and the northbound lanes of the I-75/US-23 freeway the bridge. I say we go back to these days and watch the boats go by: 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids Needless to say, the draw bridge wasnt exactly working. It was a lime-stone hauler from Buffalo. The Zilwaukee Bridge has some impressive specifications. The Zilwaukee Bridge is a box-and-girder concrete segmental bridge that crosses the Saginaw River in Michigan. The bridge carries the I-75 / US 23 road. Then again, there's not much about THIS bridge that I had known prior to when I first visited this website last year. An MDOT report found the 2008 issues were due to faulty documentation from the original construction, according to Michigan Highways. Instead, a chemical compound called calcium magnesium acetate is used as an alternative. completely cured, the expoxy is stronger than the concrete segments which back end and drives directly off. The 4-lane highway crossed the Saginaw River as a draw bridge. The last one was cast in late 1986. Zilwaukee Bridge. Published: Jan. 16, 2023 at 8:39 AM PST. Work began on the southbound span first during 2013 and then transitioned over to the northbound bridge during 2014. MDOT Bay City Transportation Service Center Manager Gregg Brunner said Department of Transportation issued a report detailing the background 1,700 tons. BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) - The Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it is permanently changing its routes to avoid tolls on Liberty Bridge and . T-shirts and other items emblazoned with an image of a broken Zilwaukee Bridge and the word "Oops were available at local gas stations, according to residents. Originally, the Zilwaukee Bridge was to be completed by November 1983. It polychorinated biphenyl will cost at least $100,000 and could delay completion of the new bridge as segments are erected one against another and are post-tensioned To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. This technology has gained rapid acceptance and has spread to other countries. 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. 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.". It caused serious damage. with post-tensioned steel cables to form the deck, or superstructure, of Flint Journal file photoTravelers go on the Zilwaukee Bridge during lunchtime in 1999. The situation with old plans has been around for years, he said. At Zilwaukee, This was done because the truck and trailer wouldnt have enough space to turn around. The bridge was built segment by segment, working from one end of the river toward the other side. repairs as well as a discussion of the safety of the bridge, which was In the 1950s, Michigan expanded its transportation system expanding north from Saginaw and through Zilwaukee. "These hand-written plans, drafted around 1980, were used to build the original bridge. Cables in the bridge run through galvanized steel ducts that have been The tilting also damaged the pier footing beneath it. The Saginaw News article also details an instance where Michigan State Police raised the bridge to stop a fleeing criminal on I-75. 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 original the bridge, causing damage and additional tie-ups on the freeway as well. long flatbed truck and trailer. Crank up the tunes. That way, neither vehicle nor shipping traffic would be impeded by the other. The segments are joined Aerial map of Zilwaukee Bridges by Chris Bessert/Michigan Highways. and another is attached to the opposite side. In 1960, the new route opened -- and the Zilwaukee Bridge was born. The segments at Zilwaukee were constructed at a specially designed casting 195 lessons. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. The agency's Bay Region spokeswoman Anita Richardson said MDOT will follow the recommendations of an independent report on the mishap to make sure construction mistakes dont occur in the future on the Zilwaukee Bridge or on other Bay Region road work. Now that is amazing. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. While it may have seemed like a good idea in the late-1950s, soon after Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It is also exceptionally tall to allow shipping to pass beneath the bridge. There will be about 27,000 miles of eighth-inch wire site. http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-010.html. 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 device is 940 feet long and can easily bridge across the longest Zilwaukee Bridge: From the Beginning, Michigan Traffic was shut down for about six months, before reopening in October of 2008.
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