PODCAST: Collapse Of The Packard Plant Bridge Spotlights The Plant's Colorful Past And Uncertain Future

On Wednesday, the Packard Plant’s bridge collapsed onto East Grand Boulevard. On today’s show, we talk about that and what we know about why it happened. And we use it as a jumping-off point to discuss the plant’s colorful past and ambitious — some might say quixotic — future plans.

In its heyday, the Packard Plant was the largest automotive factory in the world, built for an automobile company known for its engineering and innovations like the 12-cylinder engine and the modern steering wheel.

We also speak with John Lauter, a former tenant and current Packard historian, who fills us in on the plant’s post-Packard years starting in the late ’50s, including its use for film storage, then later on for illegal rave parties. Not to mention, there’s a dose of city hall intrigue at the turn of the millenium.

Below are some before-and-after shots of the pedestrian bridge.

And now some pictures from the other day…