Delta Mills Bridge
Title
Delta Mills Bridge
Description
The steel span bridge with wood floor spanning the Grand River along Webster Road was built in either 1891 or 1892. The wooden floor was re-planked in 1898. Eventually a concrete floor was installed and the steel structure was finally torn down in July 1965 followed by the pouring of new concrete supports. Then, according to The State Journal (9/1/1966), “the project was delayed for a year when federal funds were held up pending passage of a Michigan expressway billboard law complying with federal regulations.”
Work resumed on the current structure in August 1966 and work was expected to be completed by November of 1966. The current structure is made up of concrete supports, topped with 58 25-ton concrete beams each spanning more than 70 feet. The beams were lifted into place with a crane operating on the river bed which was built up into a mud flat for the construction.
During the construction, work was also completed to move “W. Willow Highway slightly to the south, eliminating the T-intersection at the south end of the bridge (TSJ, 9/1/66).” This work cleared space for the eventual construction of the canoe launch at Delta Mills Park.
Earlier bridges had spanned the Grand River prior to construction of the Steel span bridge in the 1890’s. A motion was passed during the first Township meeting on April 4, 1842 to “raise $100 for roads and bridges, and that first the bridge debt be liquidated and the balance appropriated by the highway commissioners (1).” In October of 1857 the Township Board authorized “the township of Delta to raise by tax a sum not exceeding $1000 to build a bridge across Grand River in said township at or near the quarter line of section 3.” Then in January of 1859 Delta Township resident, Alonzo Baker, was authorized, “to build a dam across Grand River on the northwest quarter of section 5 in Delta (1).”
Residents remembered crossing the old steel span & wood plank bridge while growing up and described it as unsafe. Stating that they thought they would bouncy right off it if they drove too fast. Other residents remembered warnings of not carrying heavy loads across the old structure.
Work resumed on the current structure in August 1966 and work was expected to be completed by November of 1966. The current structure is made up of concrete supports, topped with 58 25-ton concrete beams each spanning more than 70 feet. The beams were lifted into place with a crane operating on the river bed which was built up into a mud flat for the construction.
During the construction, work was also completed to move “W. Willow Highway slightly to the south, eliminating the T-intersection at the south end of the bridge (TSJ, 9/1/66).” This work cleared space for the eventual construction of the canoe launch at Delta Mills Park.
Earlier bridges had spanned the Grand River prior to construction of the Steel span bridge in the 1890’s. A motion was passed during the first Township meeting on April 4, 1842 to “raise $100 for roads and bridges, and that first the bridge debt be liquidated and the balance appropriated by the highway commissioners (1).” In October of 1857 the Township Board authorized “the township of Delta to raise by tax a sum not exceeding $1000 to build a bridge across Grand River in said township at or near the quarter line of section 3.” Then in January of 1859 Delta Township resident, Alonzo Baker, was authorized, “to build a dam across Grand River on the northwest quarter of section 5 in Delta (1).”
Residents remembered crossing the old steel span & wood plank bridge while growing up and described it as unsafe. Stating that they thought they would bouncy right off it if they drove too fast. Other residents remembered warnings of not carrying heavy loads across the old structure.
Source
(1) Durant, Samuel W. History of Ingham and Eaton Counties, Michigan with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: D.W. Ensign, 1880. Archive.org. Web. 31 May 2016. <https://archive.org/details/cu31924028870322>. p. 454
Collection Items
Delta Mills Bridge and Family
Delta Mills Bridge. Photo taken in the 1890's on the south bank of the Grand River. The Grist Mill can be seen in the background on the North bank of the river. The family on the bridge is believed to either the Henderson Family or Waterman Lazell…
Delta Mills Bridge Replanking
The steel span structure of the Delta Mills Bridge, which spanned the Grand River along Webster Road was built in either 1891 or 1892. Pictured is the crew that installed the new bridge floor in 1898. The Highway Commissioner, Charles Knapp is the…
On the River, 1899
Delta Mills Bridge. View from the South Bank of the Grand River with the old Grist Mill in the background. Photo taken in 1899. People in the boat are unknown.
Delta Mills Bridge
Delta Mills Bridge. Pictured from the North Bank of the Grand River. Original steel span structure constructed in the early 1890’s.