Steel Bridge

This is Sturgeon Bay's Michigan Street bridge.

Affectionately known as the Steel Bridge.

Built in 1930 it was - for a period of time - the sole connection between the northern and southern parts of the peninsula. 

As a college kid I remember camping at Peninsula State Park and waiting on a Sunday afternoon to make the crossing with what seemed like a bazillion other tourists. 

One crossing.  And boat traffic has the right of way.

The bridge was damaged in 1960 when a freighter collided with a lift span. The bridge was out of commission for months.

A pontoon bridge was hastily constructed to cross the ship canal to the east – but following this episode the locals demanded that a second bridge be constructed.

Almost three decades passed before the Bay View Bridge built.

A couple of years ago the Oregon Street Bridge was constructed – mostly because the old steel bridge kept failing.

This picture was taken from the Oregon Street location and you can see the venerable Steel Bridge under all of those shrouds. It’s getting a new coat of paint as part of its rehabilitation.