Manette Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Manette Bridge is a steel truss bridge that spans the Port Washington Narrows
in Bremerton, Washington
, USA
. It connects the community of Manette, Washington
to downtown Bremerton. Although it is not part of a numbered state highway
, it is one of four bridges specifically designated by state law to be maintained by the Washington Department of Transportation. The bridge is 82 feet (25 m) above the water, and has a horizontal clearance of 321 feet (97.8 m) between the piers.
ferry
Pioneer serviced the crossing between Bremerton
and Manette for most of the time. Sometimes the Urania
, a passenger-only ferry
, filled in. Missing the last ferry
meant a long trip around Dyes Inlet
through Chico
, Silverdale
and Tracyton
on mostly unimproved roads.
constructed by the East Bremerton Improvement Club to assist families in commuting from the eastside of Bremerton, Washington
to the westside. Locals went door to door selling stock, raising approximately $200,000 for the bridge.
Construction on the bridge began October 1929, by the Union Bridge Company of Portland, Oregon
. The bridge was 1573 ft (479.5 m) long, 80 ft (24.4 m) high, and 2 lanes. The bridge opened on June 21, 1930, amid much celebration. Among those present was Jane Garrison, the 106 year old granddaughter of Chief Seattle
.
Originally the bridge was a toll bridge
, with tolls of $.25 per car, and $.05 per pedestrian. The Washington Toll Bridge Authority
purchased the bridge in 1937. The tolls generated on the bridge enabled the Washington Toll Bridge Authority
to recover the purchase price within a year and a half. George Baker was a toll collector on the bridge from the day the bridge opened until the toll ended. He was said to always have an extra nickel for the young person who lost his toll money. The toll was lifted January 28, 1939. The last person to pay a toll on the bridge was J.C Bartholet, at 3:59 pm that day. The bridge remained toll-free until the nearby Warren Avenue Bridge opened as a toll bridge. Since traffic would use the toll-free Manette Bridge instead, tolls were reinstated from November 25, 1958 to October 24, 1972.
In 1949, the timber
approaches were replaced with concrete
and steel
components. The entire timber
roadway deck was replaced around the same time. The main span thru truss and deck trusses are from the original 1930's bridge. Currently a project is in the works to replace the bridge, with construction starting spring of 2010. The Manette Bridge,which was first built in 1930, is currently listed as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The replacement Manette Bridge opened Nov. 10, 2011.
Port Washington Narrows
The Port Washington Narrows is a tidal strait located in Bremerton, Washington. The northwest entrance is marked on the west side by Rocky Point, and the southeast entrance is located at Point Turner on the west side and Point Herron on the east side....
in Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It connects the community of Manette, Washington
Manette, Washington
Manette, Washington is a community in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It was established as a town on April 20, 1891, but was later made part of Bremerton, Washington. Manette is located on Point Herron, commonly known as the Manette Peninsula, in the body of water known as Port...
to downtown Bremerton. Although it is not part of a numbered state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
, it is one of four bridges specifically designated by state law to be maintained by the Washington Department of Transportation. The bridge is 82 feet (25 m) above the water, and has a horizontal clearance of 321 feet (97.8 m) between the piers.
Ferry crossing
Before the bridge was opened in 1930 the trip was made by ferry. Between 1916 and 1930, the Mosquito FleetMosquito Fleet
The term Mosquito Fleet has had nine main meanings in U.S. naval and maritime history:#It is the term used to describe the United States Navy's fleet of small gunboats, leading up to and during the War of 1812, most were part of the New Orleans Squadron....
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
Pioneer serviced the crossing between Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
and Manette for most of the time. Sometimes the Urania
Urania (steamboat)
The steamboat Urania was a vessel that operated on Lake Washington in the first part of the 20th Century. Built of wood, the vessel burned and sank in 1914...
, a passenger-only ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
, filled in. Missing the last ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
meant a long trip around Dyes Inlet
Dyes Inlet
Dyes Inlet is an inlet on the Kitsap Peninsula in western Washington State, USA. Silverdale, WA is located on the north shore of the inlet and has a marina, waterfront park, boat ramp, and boardwalk. The west shoreline is part of Chico, WA and the east shoreline is Tracyton, WA...
through Chico
Chico, Washington
Chico is an CDP in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. Named in 1889 for a local Indian, Chico is located on the Dyes Inlet waterfront to the southeast of Silverdale. Most of Chico's residents commute to work in nearby Silverdale or Bremerton...
, Silverdale
Silverdale, Washington
Silverdale is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 19,204 at the 2010 census.Despite many attempts at incorporation, Silverdale remains an unincorporated community....
and Tracyton
Tracyton, Washington
Tracyton is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. Its population was 5,233 at the 2010 census. Tracyton was named for 19th century Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F...
on mostly unimproved roads.
Bridge history
The bridge was built as the Bremerton-Manette Bridge, a toll bridgeToll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
constructed by the East Bremerton Improvement Club to assist families in commuting from the eastside of Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
to the westside. Locals went door to door selling stock, raising approximately $200,000 for the bridge.
Construction on the bridge began October 1929, by the Union Bridge Company of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The bridge was 1573 ft (479.5 m) long, 80 ft (24.4 m) high, and 2 lanes. The bridge opened on June 21, 1930, amid much celebration. Among those present was Jane Garrison, the 106 year old granddaughter of Chief Seattle
Chief Seattle
Chief Seattle , was a Dkhw’Duw’Absh chief, also known as Sealth, Seathle, Seathl, or See-ahth. A prominent figure among his people, he pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, forming a personal relationship with David Swinson "Doc" Maynard. Seattle, Washington was named after him...
.
Originally the bridge was a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
, with tolls of $.25 per car, and $.05 per pedestrian. The Washington Toll Bridge Authority
Washington Toll Bridge Authority
The Washington Toll Bridge Authority was created in 1937 by the Washington State Legislature, with a mandate to finance, construct and operate toll bridges....
purchased the bridge in 1937. The tolls generated on the bridge enabled the Washington Toll Bridge Authority
Washington Toll Bridge Authority
The Washington Toll Bridge Authority was created in 1937 by the Washington State Legislature, with a mandate to finance, construct and operate toll bridges....
to recover the purchase price within a year and a half. George Baker was a toll collector on the bridge from the day the bridge opened until the toll ended. He was said to always have an extra nickel for the young person who lost his toll money. The toll was lifted January 28, 1939. The last person to pay a toll on the bridge was J.C Bartholet, at 3:59 pm that day. The bridge remained toll-free until the nearby Warren Avenue Bridge opened as a toll bridge. Since traffic would use the toll-free Manette Bridge instead, tolls were reinstated from November 25, 1958 to October 24, 1972.
In 1949, the timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
approaches were replaced with concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
components. The entire timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
roadway deck was replaced around the same time. The main span thru truss and deck trusses are from the original 1930's bridge. Currently a project is in the works to replace the bridge, with construction starting spring of 2010. The Manette Bridge,which was first built in 1930, is currently listed as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The replacement Manette Bridge opened Nov. 10, 2011.