CN Ford River Bridge

Located along US Highways 2 and 41 west of Escanaba, this large through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over the Ford River. The first bridge at this location consisted of two 105-foot wooden Howe through truss spans. These spans were renewed by combination Howe through truss spans of the same length in 1880. In 1883, the C&NW double tracked the line between Escanaba and Narenta, constructing a new iron through truss bridge at this location. This bridge consisted of two 110-foot riveted quadrangular lattice through truss spans, set onto new stone substructures. Each span appears to have consisted of two individual single track spans, and likely was fabricated by the Alden and Lassig Bridge & Iron Works. These trusses used a design typical for the 1880s, with light built-up members and an early variation of the standard pedimented lattice portal bracing used on later lattice through truss spans constructed for the C&NW by the Lassig Bridge & Iron Works. By the early 20th Century, the 1883 bridge had become too light for traffic, and in 1910-1911, would be replaced by the current through plate girder bridge. To facilitate the construction of a new bridge, the trusses for one track were removed, and the new girders were installed. After one track was opened on the new bridge, the second track trusses were removed and the remainder of the bridge was constructed. It is believed that the current bridge reused the stone substructures from the 1883 bridge. It is unclear if the 1883 truss spans were reused elsewhere, but a bridge at Wausau, Wisconsin used two similar spans, which were erected in 1911-1912. Many railroads, including the C&NW, reused steel and iron spans for branch line structures, as this reduced the cost and amount of new material required for constructing branch line bridges.

Currently, the bridge consists of two double track 110-foot through plate girder spans, set onto stone substructures. The superstructure is extremely heavily constructed, with two massive plate girders on each span, a heavily constructed floor and curved and tapered girder ends. In addition, the girders have a number of additional flanges and plates not commonly seen on early 20th Century girders. When this bridge was constructed, it is likely that these girders were among the longest plate girders ever constructed. The substructures use a standard design, with a diamond shaped pier and stepped abutments extending perpendicular to the structure. Stone for the substructures consists of a white limestone, likely quarried at Duck Creek, Wisconsin. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed the substructures. Railroads commonly used through plate girder spans, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen few alterations. Today, only the northern track remains in use. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.