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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer April 18, 2016 - - No. 140 |
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The rather small scrap heap of guard rails and railroad irons, along State Road at the top of the hill above Jewell Creek, is all that remains of one of the last single lane bridges in Ottawa County. Early this spring the tree cutting crews arrived to strip away ancient oaks that crowded the roadway's edge, in anticipation of the new bridge building project that would soon be underway. This historic gravel road twists into an s-curve as its down-sloping grade, from both east and west, approach the stream below; where the little bridge, for decades, allowed travelers to cross. Huge cranes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, and pile drivers soon overwhelmed the site. Jewell Creek's rising spring waters were temporarily channeled between plates of steel driven into the earth as construction began. The new, more-than-two-lanes-wide bridge, is taking shape as it leaves not a trace of the picturesque narrow little crossing familiar to many of us. Likely, out of habit, drivers will still slow down as they round the downhill curves to the creek. There won't be any worry now however of having to stop and wait for an oncoming vehicle to cross ahead of you. The local neighbor kids will likely find the expanse of concrete a pleasing summer hangout at the guardrails edge. That small one lane crossing over Jewell Creek will be missed; although, this new bridge will be good for as many and more generations of travelers as the last. The remaining canopy of trees along the roadway will reshape itself in the coming years. Jewell Creek crossing will take on a new and again distinct character of its own. |
