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 Mottville Bridge Posted by:  rj_toot
N 41° 48.027 W 085° 45.444
16T E 603230 N 4628366
Michigan historical marker located near the Mottville Bridge
Waymark Code: WMJBP5
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2013
Views: 10
Historical marker near what is now a footbridge, a reinforced concrete camelback bridge built in the 1920s. US 12 now passes over the St. Joe river on a new bridge. There is plenty of parking nearby to take a look at the river and read about the history of the bridge. I definitely recommend visiting this site!
Description:
Mottville Bridge
The Great Sauk Trail, which connected Detroit, Chicago, Green Bay, Wisconsin, crossed the St. Joseph River at a shallow spot in this vicinity. Responding to the westward migration of pioneers, the federal government surveyed the trail and converted it into the Chicago Road (presently U.S. 12) in 1825. The first Chicago Road bridge to cross the river near Mottville was a substantial timber structure constructed in 1833-34 by contractor Hart L. Stewart. A pile supported bridge replaced it in 1845. In 1867, Mahlon Thompson and Joseph Miller built a covered Burr arch truss. The ruin of its stone-block abutments are visible upstream from here, This three-span camelback bridge was built in 1922. In 1990 U.S. 12 was rerouted over a new bridge. The camelback bridge is now used for foot traffic.
Constructed in 1922, this three-span, 270-foot-long bridge is the longest Michigan example of a reinforced concrete camelback bridge. These bridges are found primarily in Michigan and Ontario, Canada and the Mottville Bridge is an excellent example of this design. It was built by contractors Smith and Nichols of Hastings under the direction of State Bridge Engineer C.A. Melick. The Michigan State Highway Department pioneered the use of standardized designs for concrete bridges. By the early 1920s the department had established standardized plans for camelback spans of 50, 60, 70, 75, and 90 feet. This bridge contains three identical 90-foot spans. It was preserved by the Michigan Department of Transportation when the present U.S. 12 bridge was erected.
Parking nearby?: yes
D/T ratings: 
Registered Site #: 576
Historical Date: Not listed
Historical Name: Not listed
website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:Take a photo of your GPS at the marker. We'd prefer a photo of you with your GPS, but we realize that sometimes that's just not possible or preferable.
Also include a bit about your visit to the marker.
NEW: Instructions for logging Missing Marker Visits.
If the Marker is missing, but still listed here, you must provide a photo of you at the actual item historically honored. (This should be the waymark's "default" image). Indicate in your log that you took your photo at the Historical Location instead of the marker, because the marker was missing. Please also still include a bit about your visit to the site.
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