The existing 100+ year-old bridge carrying the Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC RR) over the Manistee River in Manton, MI, is slated for replacement due to significant structural deterioration. The current structure, which includes a main span steel truss over the river and several deteriorated timber bent spans on steep, unstable slopes, is under a slow order, limiting GLC’s operational efficiency along this northern Michigan rail line.

To address these challenges, the new bridge design features a modern three-span steel deck girder structure with an open deck and a new downstream walkway. The spill-through abutments will be supported on steel H-piles, while the new piers will rest on drilled shafts strategically placed on either side of the existing bridge. This approach minimizes track outages during construction, ensuring continuity of rail traffic.