Carries Automobiles Locale Eagle River, Michigan ID number 42142021000B050 Height 15 m Location Eagle River Materials Wood, Steel | Crosses Eagle River Other name(s) Eagle River Bridge Opened 1990 Total length 46 m Body of water Eagle River | |
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Preceded by Lake Shore Drive Bridge Similar Lake Shore Drive Bridge, Eagle River Light, Grand Island East Channel | ||
The Eagle River Timber Bridge is a wooden arch bridge carrying highway M-26 over the Eagle River in Eagle River, Michigan. It opened in 1990 as a replacement for the historic Lake Shore Drive Bridge that runs parallel to it.
Contents
History
Construction on the bridge began in 1988. The quantity of wood used was equivalent to three or four average-size houses. The bridge opened for highway M-26 traffic in 1990, at which point the neighboring Lake Shore Drive Bridge was restricted to pedestrian use.
On August 26, 1992, the bridge was entered into the 1992 Timber Bridge Design and Construction Award Competition. It was awarded first place in the "Long Span Vehicular Bridges" category.
Design
The bridge is primarily constructed of wood joined together with steel connectors. It is supported by two adjacent arches: one spans 74 feet (23 m) and the other 79 feet (24 m). Each arch is constructed from two curved sections joined together by a crown hinge. The road deck is made of wood and covered by an asphalt road surface.
All the timber members were glue-laminated and pressure treated with preservative pentachlorophenol in oil. Any wooden portions which were cut or drilled also had an application of copper naphthenate. The steel pins in the hinges at the crown and abutments were chrome plated to reduce friction and prevent corrosion. All other steel was hot-dipped galvanized, given a tie-coat, and covered by epoxy and a top coat of brown urethane, a system designed to provide thirty years of protection.
Bridge maintenance consists of reapplying preservative to all wooden members and any necessary tightening of bolts.