Willimansett Bridge

Willimansett Bridge
Coordinates 42°11′42″N 72°36′5″W / 42.19500°N 72.60139°WCoordinates: 42°11′42″N 72°36′5″W / 42.19500°N 72.60139°W
Carries pedestrian and vehicular traffic
Route 116 / Route 141
plumbing
Crosses Connecticut River
Locale Chicopee, Massachusetts to Holyoke, Massachusetts
Characteristics
Design truss bridge
Total length 800 feet (240 m)
Load limit 7 tons for small trucks
8 tons for medium trucks
12 tons for large trucks
History
Designer Edward S. Shaw
Opened 1892[1]

The Willimansett Bridge is a steel truss bridge over the Connecticut River located between Chicopee, Massachusetts and Holyoke, Massachusetts. It carries Massachusetts state routes 116 and 141.

History

The bridge was built in 1891 by Richard F. Hawkins Ironworks[2](superstructure) and Wright Lyons and Company (substructure) with Edward S. Shaw as engineer[3] at an original cost of $178,326.69.[4]

Maker's plaque on the bridge

The bridge received new weight restrictions in the summer of 2007. A refurbishment project began in August 2011. The $19 million project includes bridge deck replacement, sidewalk replacement, bridge rail replacement, substructure repairs, cleaning & painting of structural steel. Girders, steel trusses and one or more of the piers will be replaced. The bridge is closed to traffic during the 2.5 year planned construction but will still be usable by pedestrians.[5] The original contractor went bankrupt, causing a 9-month delay. Northern Construction has taken over the work.[6] The work is expected to be completed in July 2015 at an additional cost of $3 million.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ History of Chicopee, MA
  2. ↑
    • Toomey, Daniel P. (1892). Massachusetts of Today: A Memorial of the State Historical and Biographical Issued for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. Columbia. p. 347.Google books
  3. ↑ See Maker's Plaque image
  4. ↑
    • Copeland, Alfred Minott (1902). Massachusetts of Today: A Memorial of the State Historical and Biographical Issued for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. Century Memorial Pub. Co. p. 173.Google books
  5. ↑ http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20110815chicopeeholyoke_bridge_closes_for_repair_work/ The Boston Herald/Associated Press
  6. ↑ DeForge, Jeanette (13 May 2014). "Willimansett Bridge reconstruction work to resume in Chicopee and Holyoke". MassLive LLC. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  7. ↑ DeForge, Jeanette (13 May 2014). "Willimansett Bridge between Chicopee and Holyoke to be completed in July 2015; cost increased by $3 million". MassLive, LLC. Retrieved 4 December 2014.

External links