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Structure, Port Huron, since 1932

Seventh Street, Black River Bridge

Still standing, photographed 2012

Seventh Street-Black River Bridge (Port Huron, Michigan), 2012 Photo: Notorious4life at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1932
Style
single-leaf trunnion bascule
Standing
94 years

Designed by John Alexander Low Waddell

The Seventh Street, Black River Bridge has stood on Seventh Street over the Black River in Port Huron since 1932, 94 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Seventh Street, Black River Bridge

Seventh Street (Erie St) bridge over the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan, 2003 Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Seventh Street, Black River Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, opening, 2011 Photo: kristy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1932, as the region worked through hard times and then boomed after the war, the Seventh Street, Black River Bridge opened in Port Huron.

Credit the design to John Alexander Low Waddell, in the single-leaf trunnion bascule style.

Built by Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company.

The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 2000.

Go see it at Seventh Street over the Black River. Photos never get the scale right.

The Seventh Street, Black River Bridge is a bridge carrying Seventh Street over the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It is the only single-leaf bascule bridge in the state of Michigan.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1932 Built Designed by John Alexander Low Waddell
  2. 2000 Listed on the National Register February 4, 2000
  3. 2026 Today 94 years and still standing

Where it is

Seventh Street over the Black River, Port Huron

On this map

  1. Seventh Street, Black River Bridge This place
  2. Military Road Historic District 0.1 mi
  3. Howard Block 0.1 mi
  4. Harrington Hotel 0.3 mi
  5. Ladies of the Maccabees Building 0.5 mi
  6. Wilbur F. Davidson House 0.7 mi
  7. Huron (lightship) 0.9 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

John Alexander Low Waddell
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

John Alexander Low Waddell

Civil engineer, 1854 to 1938. Designed the Seventh Street, Black River Bridge (1932)

Builder

Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company

American bridge fabricator, founded 1888. Built the Seventh Street, Black River Bridge (1932)

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. Seventh Street-Black River Bridge (Port Huron, Michigan), 2012 Photo: Notorious4life at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Seventh Street (Erie St) bridge over the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan, 2003 Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. The Seventh Street, Black River Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, opening, 2011 Photo: kristy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.