| Lake Shore Drive Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | M-26 Bridge[1] Eagle River Bridge[2] |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Eagle River |
| Locale | Eagle River, Michigan |
| ID number | 42142021000B030 |
| Designer | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 139 feet (42 m)[1] |
| Width | 18 feet (5.5 m)[1] |
| Longest span | 105 feet (32 m)[1] |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| Constructed by | Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company |
| Construction end | 1915 |
| Followed by | Eagle River Timber Bridge |
| Heritage status | Michigan State Historic Site Designated: May 10, 1990 |
The Lake Shore Drive Bridge, also known as the M-26 Bridge or the Eagle River Bridge, is a pedestrian bridge located in Eagle River, Michigan, that crosses the Eagle River. It carried highway M-26 over the river from 1915 until 1990, when the adjacent Eagle River Timber Bridge replaced it for automobile traffic. The Lake Shore Drive Bridge was listed as a Michigan State Historic Site on May 10, 1990.[1]
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Originally located on the site was a Pratt through truss bridge which had, by 1915, deteriorated sufficiently to warrant replacement.[1] The new bridge was designed by the Michigan State Highway Department under a system of standardized bridge plans provided to local communities on request.[1] The Lake Shore Drive Bridge was constructed by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company of Milwaukee, and was completed in 1915.[1] The concrete abutments were made by the Smith-Byers-Sparks Company from Houghton, Michigan.[1]
The Lake Shore Drive Bridge was one of two bridges built simultaneously over the Eagle River, the other located in Phoenix, Michigan.[1]
In 1990, the adjacent Eagle River Timber Bridge opened for traffic and the Lake Shore Drive Bridge was relegated to pedestrian traffic. The Lake Shore Drive Bridge was listed as a Michigan State Historic Site on May 10, 1990, and an informational marker was erected in 1991.[1]
The collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, a continuous deck truss,[3] in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, prompted inspections of bridges of similar construction. Four bridges of this type were identified in Michigan, including the Lake Shore Drive Bridge.[4] The bridge was inspected on August 6, 2007,[4][5] and was determined to be safe.[3]
The bridge is a Warren deck truss and continuous deck truss[3] made of riveted steel.[1] The 139 feet (42 m) bridge has three spans: a main span of 105 feet (32 m) flanked by two 34 feet (10 m) spans.[1] The guard rails are made of woven steel lattice.[1]