Zilwaukee Bridge

Zilwaukee Bridge
Approaching the bridge going northbound
Coordinates	43°28′56″N 83°54′46″W / 43.48222°N 83.91278°W / 43.48222; -83.91278
Carries	8 lanes of I-75 / US 23
Crosses	Saginaw River
Locale	Zilwaukee and Zilwaukee Township, Michigan
Official name	Zilwaukee Bridge
Maintained by	Michigan Department of Transportation
ID number	73173112000B031 NB 73173112000B032 SB
Preceded by	Zilwaukee Drawbridge (1960)
Characteristics
Design	Segmental bridge
Total length	8,061 ft (2,457.0 m) NB 8,085 ft (2,464.3 m) SB[1]
Width	74 ft (22.7 m)[1]
Height	125 ft (38 m)[2]
Longest span	392 ft (119.5 m)[1]
No. of spans	26 NB, 25 SB
Load limit	MS 22.5
Clearance below	36.5 m (120 ft)[1]
History
Construction start	late 1979[2]
Construction end	September 19, 1988[2]
Opened	December 23, 1987[2]
Statistics
Daily traffic	23,450 vehicles[1]
Location

The Zilwaukee Bridge is a high-level, segmental concrete bridge spanning the Saginaw River in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river serves as the boundary between Zilwaukee Township and the city of Zilwaukee at this point, which is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Saginaw. It carries Interstate 75 and US 23.

The current eight-lane structure, completed in 1988, is the second such bridge at this location, replacing a four-lane bascule bridge constructed in 1960. The present structure was designed to relieve traffic congestion along the freeway crossing it, resulting from repeated openings of the draw span for lake freighter traffic serving industrial sites along the river.^[3] The Zilwaukee Bridge is approximately 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in length and rises 125 feet (38 m) at its highest point.^[1][2]