View source for M-88–Intermediate River Bridge

{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = M-88–Intermediate River Bridge
| nrhp_type    =
| image        = M-88 Intermediate River Bridge.jpg
| caption      =
| location     = {{jct|state=MI|MI|88}} over [[Intermediate River]], [[Bellaire, Michigan]]
| coordinates  = {{coord|44|58|43|N|85|12|36|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin     = Michigan#USA
| mapframe     = yes
| mapframe-marker = building
| mapframe-zoom = 13
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map
| built        = {{Start date|1930}}
| builder      = L. W. Lamb
| architect    = [[Michigan Department of Transportation|Michigan State Highway Department]]
| architecture = steel Stringer
| added        = December 17, 1999
| area         = less than one acre
| mpsub        = {{NRHP url|id=64500271|title=Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS}}
| refnum       = 99001574<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a|dateform=mdy}}</ref>
}}
The '''M-88–Intermediate River Bridge''' is a bridge located on [[M-88 (Michigan highway)|M-88]] over the [[Intermediate River]] in [[Bellaire, Michigan]], United States.  It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1999.<ref name = "nris"/> It is a noteworthy product of [[Great Depression|Depression]]-era relief work.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}}

==History==
In 1893, a steel truss bridge was constructed to carry Bellaire's main north–south street over the Intermediate River.<ref name="state">{{cite web |url= http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/1586.htm |title= M-88–Intermediate River Bridge |publisher= Michigan State Housing Development Authority |work= Historic Sites Online |access-date= January 8, 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141510/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/1586.htm |archive-date= January 9, 2014 }}</ref> By 1931, with the tourism boom in northern Michigan, the bridge needed replacement. The [[Michigan Department of Transportation|Michigan State Highway Department]] drafted plans, and in late 1931 awarded [[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]] contractor L. W. Lamb a $21,419 contract for the concrete construction. The Fort Pitt Bridge Works of [[Massillon, Ohio]] provided the structural steel.  Work on the bridge began in late 1931, with many workers provided by the County Relief Committee.  The bridge opened for traffic in June 1932.  The original balusters have at some points been replaced with replicas.<ref name = "hb">{{cite web | title = Bellaire Bridge | publisher = HistoricBridges.org | url = http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=michigan/bellaire/ | access-date = January 8, 2014 }}</ref>

==Description==
The M-88–Intermediate River Bridge is {{convert|60|ft}} long and {{convert|55.4|ft}} wide, with a roadway width of {{convert|40|ft}} and sidewalks lining both edges.<ref name = "state"/>  It has concrete balustrade railings with square balusters and posts, and an ornamental railing on one wing wall to protect pedestrians from the steep drop. A bridge plate gives the construction date of 1931.

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|Michigan}}
*{{portal-inline|National Register of Historic Places}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/photos.php?bridgebrowser=michigan/bellaire/&gallerynum=1&gallerysize=1 Photos] from HistoricBridges.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:M-88-Intermediate River Bridge}}
[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1930]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Antrim County, Michigan]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Antrim County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in the United States]]