Location: Spring Lake Inlet Bridge, Spring Lake, MI - (GTW)

The Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee (GTW) used this swing bridge across the Grand River just north of their Grand Haven yards.  The bridge was also used by the Chicago & West Michigan when it came through..

This bridge was built in 1908 by McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a metal rivet-connected Warren Through Truss movable swing bridge. [HBO]

Photo Info: This is a photo of the bridge in 1972. [Charles Geletzke Jr.]

Notes

Time Line

1881. The bridge tender on the swing bridge at Spring Lake was drowned this afternoon. He was leaning on the railing of the bridge, trying to loosen some drift-wood, when the railing gave way and he fell into the river. The body has not been recovered. The current running fifteen miles pr hour carried him rapidly down stream. [DFP-1881-0417]

1891. A severe gale did considerable damage blowing down signs and trees, and the swing bridge between Grand Haven and Spring Lake was blown down and is a complete wreck. A DGH&M semaphore was also blown over. Traffic us completely stopped. Four men were on the bridge when it fell and one was injured quite badly. DGH&M passenger train No. 13 ran into a box car that had been blown off the track by the wind, and the engine and two cars left the track. [AR-1891-1211]

1903. The DGH&M annual report notes that they own two drawbridges, both in Ferrysburg. One was built in 1883 and is 177' 6" long. The other, built in 1898 is 154 feet 2". One bridge is a truss bridge made of iron and the other described as through {sic] girder made of steel. Both were swung by hand power. Semaphores protected the bridges. Note: The second bridge was likely over the entrance to Spring Lake. [MCR-1904]