Built 1879 NRHP Reference # 98000273 Opened 1879 | Architectural style Other Designated MSHS April 4, 1978 Bridge type Swing bridge Added to NRHP 1 April 1998 | |
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Architect Milwaukee Bridge & Iron Co. Similar Kalamazoo River, Swing bridge, La Crosse Rail Bridge, Grand Rapids Swing Bri, Omaha Road Bridge N | ||
New richmond swing bridge top 7 facts
The New Richmond Swing Bridge, also known as The Fifty-Seventh Street Bridge, is a one lane swing bridge in Michigan. Located in Allegan County's Manlius Township, it connected 57th Street with Old Allegan Road over the Kalamazoo River until its closure to vehicular traffic. The name New Richmond comes from a former mining town in the area of the same name.
It was built in 1879 at a time when the Kalamazoo River was navigable from Lake Michigan.
The bridge's four spans reach 429 feet (131 m). A manually operated swing span was in use as late as 1925. It is one of the oldest metal truss bridges in the state of Michigan and the state's longest pony truss bridge. It is also believed to be the oldest surviving highway swing bridge in the United States.
Closed to vehicular traffic in 1997 for safety reasons, the bridge is now used for pedestrians to access parkland on both sides of the river.
On April 1, 1998, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places as structure #98000273.