Jefferson Avenue – Huron River and Harbin Drive – Silver Creek Canal Bridges
Encyclopedia
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The Jefferson Avenue-Huron River and Harbin Drive-Silver Creek Canal Bridges are two separate bridges, sharing a continuous railing, that were jointly listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on February 10, 2000.
The Jefferson Avenue Bridge carries West Jefferson Avenue
(known south of the river as the U.S. Turnpike) across the Huron River
, which connects Brownstown Charter Township in Wayne County
to Berlin Charter Township
in Monroe County
. Along with the Clinton–Kalamazoo Canal, it is one of two properties listed on the National Register in Michigan to span two counties.Since the Jefferson Avenue Bridge spans both Wayne County
and Monroe County
, it is listed on both the NRHP listings in Wayne County and the NRHP listings in Monroe County articles but is only counted once for the total state listings. The Harbin Drive Bridge is located entirely within Wayne County. Both bridges are located about one mile (0.6 km) inland from Lake Erie
on a historically important route between Detroit and Toledo
. The Jefferson Avenue Bridge is also designated as a Michigan Historic Site
.
and replaced an earlier hand drawn swing bridge
. The new beam bridge
was built high enough to where it could remain stationary and still allow small vessels to pass beneath it. Because of the amount of traffic that travels across it, the bridge has deteriorated in recent years.
The Jefferson Avenue-Huron River and Harbin Drive-Silver Creek Canal Bridges are two separate bridges, sharing a continuous railing, that were jointly listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 10, 2000.
The Jefferson Avenue Bridge carries West Jefferson Avenue
Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It travels alongside Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake Saint Clair. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area...
(known south of the river as the U.S. Turnpike) across the Huron River
Huron River (Michigan)
The Huron River is a river in southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Indian Springs Metropark in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie on the boundary between Wayne County and Monroe County...
, which connects Brownstown Charter Township in Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
to Berlin Charter Township
Berlin Charter Township, Michigan
Berlin Charter Township is a charter township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the township population was 6,924. Berlin Charter Township was organized from the northern portion of previously established Frenchtown Charter Township, and the township boundaries...
in Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
. Along with the Clinton–Kalamazoo Canal, it is one of two properties listed on the National Register in Michigan to span two counties.Since the Jefferson Avenue Bridge spans both Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
and Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, it is listed on both the NRHP listings in Wayne County and the NRHP listings in Monroe County articles but is only counted once for the total state listings. The Harbin Drive Bridge is located entirely within Wayne County. Both bridges are located about one mile (0.6 km) inland from Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
on a historically important route between Detroit and Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. The Jefferson Avenue Bridge is also designated as a Michigan Historic Site
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
.
Jefferson Avenue Bridge
The larger of the two bridges is the three-span Jefferson Avenue Bridge. It is 165 feet (50.3 m) long and 36 feet (11 m) wide. It carries a two-lane road, known as West Jefferson Avenue north of the river and as the U.S. Turnpike south of the river. It was built in 1930 by the Michigan Department of TransportationMichigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
and replaced an earlier hand drawn swing bridge
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
. The new beam bridge
Beam bridge
Beam bridges are the most simple of structural forms being supported by an abutment at each end of the deck. No moments are transferred through the support hence their structural type is known as simply supported....
was built high enough to where it could remain stationary and still allow small vessels to pass beneath it. Because of the amount of traffic that travels across it, the bridge has deteriorated in recent years.