Tours will be offered Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 7-8 in Historic Bridge Park, located in Emmett Township. These tours will reveal the stories of each bridge within the park, including where it came from, how it was built, and how it was restored. Two tours will take place each day.
When:
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 7-8
One-hour tours held each day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where:
Historic Bridge Park
14930 Wattles Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49014
Cost:
Free
Leading the tours is Vern Mesler, project manager for the Historic Bridge Project from 1997-2007. He has worked with a number of truss bridge restoration projects in Michigan, Ohio, and beyond. He works to restore truss bridges in a way that retains as much original material and construction details as possible.
Tours will begin on the Charlotte Highway Bridge, which is the red bridge over the entrance to the park, which can be accessed by steps from the road or pavilion. Participants will learn about riveting, eye-bars, bridge pins, forge welds, hub guards, and other features used in the bridge fabrication.
The public should contact the Calhoun County Parks and Recreation office for more information, 269-781-0782.
