Historic Bridges of the U.S. | Willow Run Expressway Bridge R01 (Eastbound)

Overview

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Photos

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Looking Northwest

Through the center span of the eastbound bridge. The twin westbound bridge can be seen in the background.

Photo taken by Dietrick Floerer, June 1995, for HAER

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Long View Northwest

Photo taken by Dietrick Floerer, June 1995, for HAER

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Longview Southeast

North face

Photo taken by Dietrick Floerer, June 1995, for HAER

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View West, South face

Photo taken by Dietrick Floerer, June 1995, for HAER

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West view, south face

Photo taken by Dietrick Floerer, June 1995, for HAER

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Facts

Overview: Beam bridge over Conrail on US-12 Eastbound in Ypsilanti
Location: Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Status: Open to traffic
History: Built 1941; Rehabilitated 1966; Rehabilitated 1995
Design: These virtual twin structures, one carrying eastbound traffic and the other westbound, are similar in design and construction varying only with differences in dimensions. Both consist of three spans, supported by two piers and concrete abutments. Each carries four 11' lanes and two 14' paved shoulders carried by continuous concrete T-beams.
These bridges created a grade separation for the first limited access highway in Michigan, crossing railroad tracks that supplied the Willow Run B-24 bomber plant. The expressway, in turn, carried the huge workforce from Detroit to the Willow Run plant. The twin bridges are the only extant remains of the original expressway.
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 55.8 ft.
Total length: 138.8 ft.
Deck width: 70.5 ft.
Also called: US-12 EB
Approximate latitude, longitude: +42.24611, -83.55944 (decimal degrees)
42°14'46" N, 83°33'34" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/288844/4680274 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map: Ypsilanti East
Inventory number: BH 37117 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 07/2006): Deck condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 87.5 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2003): 14,048