Technical Description:
• Continental
® Pedestrian Truss and Prefabricated Landing Piers
• Phase I: 35, 40, 60, 85, 100 ft Spans x 10 ft Wide
• Phase II: 89 ft Span x 10 ft Wide and 50, 50, 60 ft Spans x 14 ft Wide
• Style: Connector Underhung
• Finish: Galvanized Steel
• Decking: IPE Wood Deck
![]()
![]()
![]()
Located in Lansing, Michigan, the Lansing River Trail stretches from Waverly Road to Old Town and runs through Potter Park to Michigan State University. The 25-mile long trail is paved and provides a route not only to the university but also to numerous parks, cultural and commercial attractions and workplaces. Despite the urban setting, the trail traverses through wetlands and woodlands.
The Waterfront Plan began when 27 parcels of land were purchased for $2 million and by 1976, it was transformed into Riverfront Park, with the first section opening a year earlier. In 1981, the 2.5-mile long river walk received the esteemed designation as a National Recreation Trail by the United States Department of the Interior.
The most recent trail upgrades included wayfinding, a canoe/kayak launch, widened lanes, pavement replacements, improved access for increased pedestrian safety as well as new and abandoned trail sections. As part of this project, nine bridges were needed in low-land river areas because they were prone to flooding and heavy tree growth.
The City of Lansing, the project’s owner, required long-term solutions designed to improve service life and reduce maintenance. Nine Continental® Pedestrian Bridge truss structures in various sizes were installed as the best solutions to meet all of the requirements.
The first challenge was designing each structure and pier system to match the existing, rehabilitated foundation piers. The existing piers required substantial improvements, and the new structures needed to fit perfectly during installation. There was a significant amount of field coordination between Contech Engineered Solutions, the contractor, Anlaan Corporation, and the engineering teams to recreate the pier system.
Access to the site, however, created an even greater challenge. On one side, the Red Cedar River provided a constant flow and on the other side was a sensitive wetland. The structures were located anywhere from 500' to a half mile from the trailhead in a dense forest. Access and clearance were a challenge during each bridge replacement. Two structures were replaced under or near existing bridges, which could not be altered.
In the end, the Continental truss bridges were a great solution for the site, and the city, Mannik and Smith Group and C2AE were pleased with the outcome.
Technical Description:
• Continental
® Pedestrian Truss and Prefabricated Landing Piers
• Phase I: 35, 40, 60, 85, 100 ft Spans x 10 ft Wide
• Phase II: 89 ft Span x 10 ft Wide and 50, 50, 60 ft Spans x 14 ft Wide
• Style: Connector Underhung
• Finish: Galvanized Steel
• Decking: IPE Wood Deck
![]()
![]()
![]()