Saginaw County Bridge Rebuild: Hemlock Road over the South Branch of the Bad River and Fordney Road over Beaver Creek

Two bridges 6.7 miles apart near the Village of St. Charles in Saginaw County were rehabilitated with this project after routine bridge safety inspections observed both bridges had begun to deteriorate from age and general wear, showing corrosion, and holes in the deck and superstructure. The first bridge is located on Hemlock Road over the South Branch of the Bad River and the second is on Fordney Road over Beaver Creek. Both roads provide essential access for residences and fire/safety and keeping these open is a priority.

The Saginaw County Road Commission (SCRC) opted to replace the superstructures on both structures and hired Spicer Group to provide full construction engineering services for the project which also included demolition of existing structures, the installation of tub girders, substructure rehabilitation, and approach work. The SCRC chose to replace the superstructures using press brake tub girders (PBTG), which are folded plates made of galvanized steel plates, shallow, trapezoid-shaped boxes. This is a new and economic alternative currently being used in bridge construction.