Dousman+Main Street (SUC) Bridges over Fox River in Green Bay, WI

1923: (Bridge Hunter; HAER)

1998: (Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

The official name of this bridge is the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge. It is a Strauss Underneath Counterweight (SUC) design. The Kaye E. Barker allided with it in July 2017.

HAER WIS,5-GREBA,5--7
7. John N. Vogel, Photographer, August 1995 VIEW TO NORTH. TWO SPANS OPEN. - Main Street Bridge, Spanning Fox River on Main Street, Green Bay, Brown County, WI

Significance: The Main Street Bridge is a double-leaf, Strauss Underneath Counterweight bascule bridge. It is significant as the only bridge of this type in Green Bay. With its symmetrical design including four houses at each comer, the bridge is also significant as an excellent example of the Spanish Eclectic architectural style adapted for use in an industrial facility.

[HAER-data, this is effectively a general history of movable bridges.]

I've seen diagrams of Strauss' overhead and heel designs. But this is the first time I have seen a diagram of the Underneath Counterweight design. Unfortunately, these diagrams don't make sense. The whole purpose of the counterweight is to move the center of gravity of the span close to the main trunnion. The center of gravity should not be almost halfway across the channel as indicated by the diagrams. I discuss this further in the SUC design.

HAER-data, p10

Here is how that source diagramed the other two designs.

HAER-data, p9

HAER-data, p10

Photo via BridgeHunter-1923

This bridge appears to be another example of "newer is not necessarily better." The author of the Historic Bridges web site left this comment BridgeHunter-1998:

Posted July 23, 2010, by Nathan Holth (form3 [at] historicbridges [dot] org)This 12 year old bridge has been closed three times over its life for repairs. Here is news on the latest closure:
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100723/GPG0101...This bridge points to two problems:
-Modern bridges are not as reliable and long-lived as historic bridges.
-Alternatives to salt for deicing bridges need to be researched and employed.

And other comments explain that it gets stuck open for hours rather frequently.

Street View

Zendeeno, Oct 2022

The original bridge was perpendicular to the river because Main Street used to be further south.

1954 Green Bay West Quad @ 24,000

Then an urban renewal project in the early 1970s moved Main Street further north "about 1/4 of a block to the north of its original location to accommodate the Port Plaza Mall (now demolished) and the Main Street parking garage." This introduced a tight S-curve at the east end of the bridge. [Erik Eisenheim comment in BridgeHunter-1923]

1982 Green Bay West Quad @ 24,000

So they built the replacement bridge on an angle to remove the S-curve.

Satellite

The angle does create a challenge for the big freighters that use the river.

Chuck Zentmeyer photo of Kaye E. Barker via Interlake Steamship post via Dennis DeBruler

Master Sergeant Media LLC posted
She's back...! The Alpena moving through downtown Green Bay. I'll never get tired of shooting this same shot. There is always differences in the light, clouds, water, .... and there are infinite ways to edit.

Another view of the angle that has to be used to get through this bridge.

1 of 6 photos posted by Mike Roemer
With the Algoluna and the Algoma Innovator already docked and unloading in the port of Green Bay, Wisconsin on Monday [Jun 17, 2024] afternoon the John J. Boland makes its way up the Fox River from the bay of Green Bay.
[Note that the CN/WC Bridge in the background is swinging to a closed position. And the arch of the I-43 Tower Drive Bridge is further in the background.]

 

Master Sergeant Media LLC posted
The Alpena arrives in Green Bay, WI.

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