Gugel Bridge

Photos

Photo taken by Janis Ford 2/21/09

BH Photo #216559

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

Built in 1904, this 204-foot-long bridge carried the Detroit and Saginaw Turnpike over the Cass River in Bridgeport Township. By around 1919 the pike, which became the well-traveled Dixie Highway, required a more substantial crossing and this bridge was replaced and relocated to this site. The bridge closed in 1979. William 'Tiny' Zehnder had the structure restored as a pedestrian bridge in 2004. The Gugel Bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. [From Michmarkers.com]

Facts

Overview: Through truss bridge over Cass River on Beyer Road
Location: Saginaw County, Michigan
Status: Open to pedestrians
History: Built 1904
Builder: - Joliet Bridge & Iron Co. of Joliet, Illinois
Design: Main span: Pin-connected, 8-panel Pratt through truss
Approach: Pin-connected, 4-panel Pratt pony truss
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 141.7 ft.
Total length: 205.1 ft.
Deck width: 15.7 ft.
Recognition: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 2000
Also called: Cass River Bridge
Beyer Road Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude: +43.32911, -83.77635 (decimal degrees)
43°19'45" N, 83°46'35" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/274910/4801106 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Birch Run North
Inventory numbers: MINBI 73311H00038B010 (Michigan bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory 2010 and before)
NRHP 00000217 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 20208 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

January 6, 2020: Updated by Mike Kerkau: Builder
October 10, 2014: New photo from Janis Ford
February 25, 2014: New photos from James Baughn
February 24, 2014: Photo imported by Dave King

Sources

Janis Ford
Historicbridges.org - by Nathan Holth
Michmarkers.com
Mike Kerkau - mjkerkau [at] gmail [dot] com