A Drive through Arch Bridge with Convenient Windows

Pine Island Drive Bridge is a notable concrete Camelback bridge south of Sparta, Michigan, carrying Pine Island Drive over the Rogue River about halfway between Sparta and Rockford. Because the Michigan State Highway Department's largest standard camelback design spanned only 90?feet, the 100-foot Pine Island Drive Bridge required a custom plan — an unusual concrete variant never repeated elsewhere in the state. The low riverbanks at this Rogue River crossing forced the supporting trusses to be raised above the bed, creating the need for the longer span. The bridge, also recognized as the longest concrete camelback girder span in the country, features overhead bracing, a detail not used on other Michigan camelback bridges. Open to regular traffic, the site offers a wide shoulder south of the bridge for pulling over, while north of the bridge a sharp curve and hidden intersection require caution. Canoeists get a great view paddling the Rogue River, and some visitors even trudge through the surrounding swampy forest bogs. - AsNotedIn