21. Indian Trail Road Bridge over Belle River

Donated by: Calhoun County, Michigan, with generous support from Vern Mesler
Original Location: St. Clair County, China Township, Michigan
Year Built: 1937; Replaced in 2007 due to old age and condition
Replaced: 2007, due to old age and condition
Donated to SBRITE: April 2015

Structure Type: Pony Truss
Total Bridge Length: 93.8 ft
Number of Spans: 1 – 88’ span
Deck Width: 24 ft

The Indian Trail Road Bridge was a product of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (now named the Public Works Administration) program.  It was built in 1937 by Couse and Saunders of Detroit, and carried Indian Trail Road over the Belle River in China Township, Michigan. The bridge is a pony-truss bridge, a design that was rarely built after the late 1930s.

The Indian Trail Road Bridge was posted to the National Register of Historic Places on January 28, 2000 (reference number NRHP 00000012). It was replaced in 2007 and moved to Calhoun County Historic Bridge Park. Calhoun County then donated the bridge to S-BRITE in April 2015 where it was reassembled in June of that same year.

This bridge specimen is a prime example of how age and corrosion affects steel bridges.