Central / Canoe Stream

County: Wayne

City/Township: Detroit

Location: Central / Canoe Stream

Year Built: 1913

About this Bridge:
The 1913 Central Avenue Bridge, a concrete filled-spandrel arch, is located towards the northeastern end of the island, where Central Avenue winds through a heavily wooded area. The 1913 Central Avenue Bridge has a graceful arched solid parapet railing with recessed panels. A projecting coping tops the railing A bas-relief keystone over arch is incised with the date "1913." Original metal lamp standards with fluted shafts stand on the southern railing; the original globe is gone on the western fixture.

While there is little information of the construction of this bridge, it was presumably designed by the city engineer's office, as were other bridges on the island. The structure's hump-back arch fits well with the picturesque character of this part of Belle Island. It is a contributing element in the Belle Isle National Register district.