Gill - Montague Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Gill–Montague Bridge is a steel deck truss bridge
crossing the Connecticut River
in Massachusetts. It connects the Town of Gill
with the village of Turners Falls
in the Town of Montague
. The bridge carries automobile and pedestrian traffic.
The suspension bridge Whittlesey referred to was located about 1/4 mile above or east of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge. It was known as the Upper or 'Red' Suspension Bridge. It stitched Turners Falls to Riverside (Gill), Mass.
It was built in 1878 and removed in 1942 to regain materials for the war effort.
Prior to the 'Red' Bridge' construction, Bissel's Ferry operated at this site. The bridge suffered the effects of the 1936 flood but withstood nature's fury.
If not for the war recovery effort, the bridge would have met its demise as the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge would replace it. The 'Red' Bridge was 563 feet long.
The piers for this bridge remain in place along the river banks.
The current structure began construction on May 17, 1937 and was completed in September 1938. The bridge was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 1938. By 2010, the road deck of the bridge had become riddled with potholes and uneven pavement. A major renovation project began in summer 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2014 at an estimated cost of $40.7 million.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
crossing the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
in Massachusetts. It connects the Town of Gill
Gill, Massachusetts
Gill is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 1,363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with the village of Turners Falls
Turners Falls, Massachusetts
Turners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in the Town of Montague
Montague, Massachusetts
Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
. The bridge carries automobile and pedestrian traffic.
History
According to Charles W. Whittlesey, there used to be a suspension bridge here when he saw it in 1934 and 1936.The suspension bridge Whittlesey referred to was located about 1/4 mile above or east of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge. It was known as the Upper or 'Red' Suspension Bridge. It stitched Turners Falls to Riverside (Gill), Mass.
It was built in 1878 and removed in 1942 to regain materials for the war effort.
Prior to the 'Red' Bridge' construction, Bissel's Ferry operated at this site. The bridge suffered the effects of the 1936 flood but withstood nature's fury.
If not for the war recovery effort, the bridge would have met its demise as the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge would replace it. The 'Red' Bridge was 563 feet long.
The piers for this bridge remain in place along the river banks.
The current structure began construction on May 17, 1937 and was completed in September 1938. The bridge was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 1938. By 2010, the road deck of the bridge had become riddled with potholes and uneven pavement. A major renovation project began in summer 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2014 at an estimated cost of $40.7 million.