East Haddam Bridge

East Haddam Swing Bridge

The bridge in 2011
Coordinates 41°27′06″N 72°27′52″W / 41.45173°N 72.46432°W / 41.45173; -72.46432Coordinates: 41°27′06″N 72°27′52″W / 41.45173°N 72.46432°W / 41.45173; -72.46432
Carries Route 82
Crosses Connecticut River
Locale Haddam and East Haddam, Connecticut
Maintained by Connecticut Department of Transportation
ID number 1138[1]
Characteristics
Design Swing truss
Total length 881 feet (269 m)[1]
Width 24.6 ft (7.5 m)
Longest span 456 feet (139 m)[1]
326.1 feet (99.4 m)[2]
Clearance below 24.9 ft (7.6 m)
History
Opened 1913 (rebuilt 1999)
Statistics
Daily traffic 11,600
East Haddam Swing Bridge
Location in Connecticut

The East Haddam Swing Bridge is a steel, movable (swing) truss bridge composed of two main spans crossing the Connecticut River between Haddam, Connecticut and East Haddam, Connecticut. The bridge carries Route 82, with an average daily traffic of 11,600.[3] At the time of its constuction, it was reputed to be the longest swing bridge of its kind in the world. [4]

History

The pin-connected drawbridge designed by Alfred P. Boller, an authority on deep bridge foundations, was fabricated by the American Bridge Company. The bridge’s construction allowed the state to retire ferry service, which had begun in 1694, now that it had more modern means for travelers to cross the Connecticut River between East Haddam and Haddam. One of the first bridges in Connecticut paid for by the state, the East Haddam project led the legislature to form a special commission, which eventually enacted legislation that placed the control and responsibility of trunk line bridges—bridges that handled long-distance through traffic—with the State Highway Department.

On June 14, 1913, the East Haddam Swing Bridge officially opened on Flag Day. The celebration included an address by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, a 17-gun salute, a Model-T automobile parade, and a concert that drew thousands to the event. A centennial celebration for the bridge was marked on June 15, 2013 with a local parade of antique cars. [5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bruce Clouette and Matthew Rot. "East Haddam Bridge, Bridge No. 1138". CDOT. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ ROUTE - 001 NEW YORK SL (GREENWICH) TO RHODE ISLAND SL (STONINGTON) PAGE 1
  4. ↑
  5. ↑


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