Port Huron Railroad Bridge

Locals of Port Huron, or indeed anyone who has ever been near the Port Huron Yacht Club, are undoubtedly familiar with the large, metal structure at the mouth of the Black River. But, even if you have seen it a million times, you might be wondering, what is it and what is its story?

At first glance, this structure may appear like an eyesore, just a large hunk of metal that probably should have been torn down years ago. However, if you look further, you see that, even though it hasn’t been operational for a very long time, this bridge is actually a very special piece of history due, in large part, to the rare and unique design of the bridge. Additionally, it is a very recognizable landmark and an informal navigation aid for boaters on the St. Clair River (it helps them know when they are near the Black River, since it marks the entrance to said river).

What this structure is, is the Pere Marquette Railroad Bridge, also known as the Port Huron Railroad Bridge. This bridge was built in 1931 in order to span the mouth of the Black River to allow for a railroad, which has long since been removed, to traverse said river. This bridge is an important piece of engineering history as it is one of only six remaining bridges in the world (of the eight in total that were ever built) that were built in the Abt Bascule style, which involves a large counterweight. This gives a bridge an interesting, and somewhat bizarre, look that is quite unique. The designer of this bridge, Hugo Abt, was also responsible for the construction of other famous bridges, including the Mackinac Bridge and the Oakland Bay Bridge.

The Pere Marquette Railroad Bridge has not been operational for decades since the abandonment (and eventual removal) of the railroad it was built to service. Today, it is kept permanently in the raised position and has not been lowered in a very long time.

One might assume that something this large, and with this much history and significance, would be protected and would be guaranteed to remain standing forever. However, in reality, the fate of this landmark remains unclear and it is quite possible that it could soon be demolished and lost forever. There are many who view the structure as an eyesore and a hazard and who want it removed. This includes the Port Huron Yacht Club, on whose land the bridge sits.

In short, the Yacht Club, who bought the bridge several years ago, has taken the position that the bridge is a burden that it should not have to maintain. Others have pointed to the fact that organizations in possession of historic structures have a responsibility - if only a moral one at times - to preserve said structures for future generations, even if it may be inconvenient to do so.

The Port Huron Yacht Club has been trying for years to get approval to remove this bridge, but has faced legal obstacles and criticism. Recently they cleared a major obstacle by obtaining a preliminary permit to demolish the bridge. The Club then subsequently voted to demolish the bridge, citing the costs to maintain the bridge and stating that the Club is not a historical society. However, that does not mean the bridge will definitely be demolished as there are still things the Club must do before it can proceed with the demolition. Additionally, while the Yacht Club plans to move forward with the demolition, it appears that there is currently no set timeline for the removal of the bridge.

Of course, there are those who have been fighting to preserve this bridge. This fight has involved public commentary (such as through op-eds), attempting to work with the Yacht Club, attempting to oppose the Yacht Club's seeking of a permit to remove the bridge, and even at least one petition. There is even at least one Facebook group dedicated to this bridge, called Friends of the Pere Marquette Railroad Bridge, Inc., which is associated with a group of individuals who are opposed to the removal of the bridge and who have been actively opposing the Yacht Club throughout the process of seeking permission to remove the bridge.

The bottomline is that the fate of the bridge is not set in stone and will certainly remain the subject of debate until it is either removed, or until its preservation is guaranteed. As this is an ongoing issue, if you have any comments, concerns, or opinions about the bridge and it’s future, you should definitely make sure they are heard, whether it be through reaching out to people involved in the process (such as the Yacht Club or government officials), engaging with advocacy groups, writing op-eds or letters to the editor, or just spreading information.

Whatever the outcome, there are, of course, going to be those unhappy with the decision. And, whether or not it remains standing, it is clear that the Pere Marquette Railroad Bridge in Port Huron is an important piece of history that holds a great deal of significance for many people. Only time will tell if this landmark will remain standing for generations to come, or if it will live on only in memories.

August 6, 2023 Update: Despite some efforts to save it, the bridge was demolished by the Port Huron Yacht Club in April 2023.