north down river road bridge

The MDOT North Down River Road Bridge project was located over the East Branch of the Au Sable River in Crawford County. The project was a complete overhaul of the previous bridge including the steel stringer superstructure, concrete deck, concrete abutments and steel sheet pile. The original bridge was constructed in 1935 and had a steel rigid-frame which was 40 feet in length as well as width. 

The new bridge has a 80 foot span of prestressed box beams, cofferdams, retaining wall with decorative stone, drainage improvements, concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks and a guardrail. Along with the bridge, water and sewer mains were also replaced that dated back to 1925. Frequent maintenance on the bridge and more commonly with the sewer system were starting to become very costly. The new bridge not only features decorative stone and a sidewalk to add a nice touch to the area, but also provides the community with a newly paved bridge that will serve an integral part of the roadway for years to come.