Joseph E. Muller Bridge

Joseph E. Muller Bridge
Coordinates 42°12′58″N 72°36′28″W / 42.21611°N 72.60778°WCoordinates: 42°12′58″N 72°36′28″W / 42.21611°N 72.60778°W
Carries US 202
Crosses Connecticut River
Locale South Hadley, Hampshire County to Holyoke, Massachusetts, Hampden County; Massachusetts
Maintained by Massachusetts Highway Department
ID number H210350VPMHDNBI
Characteristics
Design multi-stringer Girder and Floorbeam system
Material Steel
Total length 440.1 metres (1,444 ft)
Width 19.2 metres (63 ft)
Number of spans 7
Load limit 52 Metric Tons
History
Opened 1958
Statistics
Daily traffic 21000 (2005)

The Joseph E. Muller Bridge is a crossing of the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts, connecting the towns of Holyoke and South Hadley. The bridge carries U.S. Route 202 (US 202).

History and construction of the bridge

The bridge was constructed in 1958 as part of a new bypass of U.S. Route 202 (Purple Heart Drive). The bypass was built in anticipation of increased traffic through downtown Holyoke heading towards South Hadley from Interstate 91, which was under construction at the time. Prior to the construction of the bridge, Route 202 used the nearby South Hadley Falls bridge (Vietnam Memorial Bridge) to cross the Connecticut River.

See also

References