End of an era: Pere Marquette Bridge officially removed

Port Huron’s skyline has been permanently altered.

After a month of construction, the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge was officially removed from its spot along the Black and St. Clair rivers Tuesday. Port Huron Yacht Club Commodore Tyson Connolly said the club is relieved that the bridge is successfully down, and the only remaining work needed is to remove the steel from the property.

“It’s a relief that this project went according to plan, no one got hurt and that the liability and risk of the bridge is no longer associated with our club and our community,” he said.

Connolly said the Port Huron Yacht Club is excited to move forward with the property.

The yacht club received a permit to remove the rail bridge from the Army Corp of Engineers in 2020. Per the permit, the yacht club was required to remove the bridge my April 30. Since starting the removal process in March, the yacht club has been in constant communication with the Army Corp of Engineers.

Since the announcement of the bridge being taken down, members of the community have wanted the bridge to be preserved in some way. Connolly said there have been discussions at the yacht club to memorialize a portion of the bridge in some fashion.

“A small section of the bridge has been saved to potentially be used to memorialize the bridge,” he said.

Connolly said the Port Huron Yacht Club is open to partnering local preservation groups to assist in memorializing the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge.

Connolly said the original railroad company was supposed to dismantle the bridge 50 years ago, but never did, leaving the community with a liability on its waterfront. He said that by removing the bridge, the yacht club has removed a risk to the community. However, he said the bridge will be greatly missed.

"This was not done without heartfelt sadness that our skyline has changed," Connolly said. "I don't think there are many people who won't miss seeing the bridge at the congruence of the Black River and St. Clair River."

Plans for future development of the property are being discussed by the yacht club’s strategic planning committee. Connolly said there are opportunities to do incredible things on that property.

“We’ve shown that we are a proven property developer on the waterways of the Blue Water Area and that is going to continue for the next 100 years,” he said.

Connolly would not say how much the removal process will cost the yacht club. However, he said the Port Huron Yacht Club is financially stable and will remain as such after the project.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Pere Marquette Rail Bridge officially removed