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Washington Bridge (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
The Washington Bridge carries U.S. Route 1 over the Housatonic River
in the U.S. state of Connecticut
, connecting the city of Milford
to the town of Stratford
. Its geographic location is N 41.20037 by W -73.11039. It is considered architecturally notable by the National Register of Historic Places for its five 100 feet (30.5 m) arches.
The Washington Bridge is the longest drawbridge on the Boston Post Road
. It is a steel trunnion-bearing bascule drawbridge. 859 feet (261.8 m) in length by 43 feet (13.1 m) in width, featuring two lanes in each direction for automotive traffic and a sidewalk for pedestrians. The clear channel for shipping is 125 feet (38.1 m) wide.
The bridge, which cost $1.5 million in 1921, was the largest and most expensive project of the state highway department up to the date of its construction. It is also known as Bridge No. 327.
Another alternate name for the structure is the Devon Bridge.
The first noted transport across the river at this point was a ferry that began service around May 1758. The Sons of the American Revolution
note that this crossing was likely used by George Washington
on his journey from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts
to assume his command of the Colonial Army in 1775.
The first bridge at this point was proposed in 1803 by the Milford and Stratford Bridge Company, whom changed their name to the Washington Bridge Company that same year. The first permanent standing (wooden) bridge opened in 1813, complete with a toll. This bridge was rebuilt at least twice: once in 1807 when ice flows carried the bridge out to sea and again in 1868 when it was struck by the steamer Monitor.
In 1844 Governor Roger Sherman Baldwin
vetoed a bill requiring the Washington Bridge Company to make alterations to the bridge at its own expense even though the conditions requiring these changes did not exist when the bridge was originally built. The veto was overridden by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly
.
In 1845 the Supreme Court of the United States
ruled that the act was unconstutional in Washington Bridge Company v. Stewart.
The second bridge opened in 1894 and was built of iron for $88,500. It featured two 215 feet (65.5 m) fixed spans and a single 200 feet (61 m) swinging span in the center, with a walking path on the northern side. A trolly line was originally objected to by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad but was ultimately added in the southern lane.
Built in 1921, the original fabricator of the current bridge was Bethlehem Steel Bridge.
It was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell
, a noted structural engineer with over 1000 structures to his credit. Originally the bridge supported two streetcar tracks and two lanes for passenger cars.
At the time of its construction, it was the most expensive project yet undertaken by the Connecticut Department of Transportation
, costing $1.5 million.
The Washington Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004.
for pedestrians or bicyclists near Long Island Sound
. The next available crossing would be the newly reconstructed Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
roughly 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upriver.
It is illegal to fish from the bridge.
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
in the U.S. state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, connecting the city of Milford
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
to the town of Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
. Its geographic location is N 41.20037 by W -73.11039. It is considered architecturally notable by the National Register of Historic Places for its five 100 feet (30.5 m) arches.
The Washington Bridge is the longest drawbridge on the Boston Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
. It is a steel trunnion-bearing bascule drawbridge. 859 feet (261.8 m) in length by 43 feet (13.1 m) in width, featuring two lanes in each direction for automotive traffic and a sidewalk for pedestrians. The clear channel for shipping is 125 feet (38.1 m) wide.
The bridge, which cost $1.5 million in 1921, was the largest and most expensive project of the state highway department up to the date of its construction. It is also known as Bridge No. 327.
Another alternate name for the structure is the Devon Bridge.
History
Prior to the current bridge there were two prior spans serving from 1803 to 1894 & 1894 to 1921 (see postcard image).The first noted transport across the river at this point was a ferry that began service around May 1758. The Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
note that this crossing was likely used by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
on his journey from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
to assume his command of the Colonial Army in 1775.
The first bridge at this point was proposed in 1803 by the Milford and Stratford Bridge Company, whom changed their name to the Washington Bridge Company that same year. The first permanent standing (wooden) bridge opened in 1813, complete with a toll. This bridge was rebuilt at least twice: once in 1807 when ice flows carried the bridge out to sea and again in 1868 when it was struck by the steamer Monitor.
In 1844 Governor Roger Sherman Baldwin
Roger Sherman Baldwin
Roger Sherman Baldwin was an American lawyer involved in the Amistad case, who later became the 17th Governor of Connecticut and a United States Senator.-Early life:...
vetoed a bill requiring the Washington Bridge Company to make alterations to the bridge at its own expense even though the conditions requiring these changes did not exist when the bridge was originally built. The veto was overridden by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
.
In 1845 the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
ruled that the act was unconstutional in Washington Bridge Company v. Stewart.
The second bridge opened in 1894 and was built of iron for $88,500. It featured two 215 feet (65.5 m) fixed spans and a single 200 feet (61 m) swinging span in the center, with a walking path on the northern side. A trolly line was originally objected to by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad but was ultimately added in the southern lane.
Built in 1921, the original fabricator of the current bridge was Bethlehem Steel Bridge.
It was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell
John Alexander Low Waddell
John Alexander Low Waddell was an American civil engineer and prolific bridge designer, with more than a thousand structures to his credit in the United States, Canada, as well as Mexico, Russia, China, Japan, and New Zealand...
, a noted structural engineer with over 1000 structures to his credit. Originally the bridge supported two streetcar tracks and two lanes for passenger cars.
At the time of its construction, it was the most expensive project yet undertaken by the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
, costing $1.5 million.
The Washington Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2004.
Non-motorized access
The Washington Bridge is the only crossing of the Housatonic RiverHousatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
for pedestrians or bicyclists near Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. The next available crossing would be the newly reconstructed Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge carries the limited-access Connecticut Route 15 over the Housatonic River, between Stratford and Milford, Connecticut. The bridge was first referred to as the Sikorsky Bridge because Sikorsky Aircraft is headquartered just north of the bridge...
roughly 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upriver.
It is illegal to fish from the bridge.
Renovations
The bridge has seen several renovations, including those completed in:- 1935: Removal of streetcar apparatus to increase passenger car traffic from two lanes to four.
- 1990: Repaving and superstructure (including concrete parapet and railing).
- 2007: $18.5 million overhaul which included fibreglass fenders for the bridge piers, installation of its own generator, a new bridge control system, and a complete overhaul to the mechanical apparatus.
Safety Inspection Results
Inspection (as of 08/2008):- Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
- Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
- Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
- Sufficiency rating: 53.4 (out of 100)
See also
- Moses Wheeler BridgeMoses Wheeler BridgeMoses Wheeler Bridge carries Interstate 95 over the Housatonic River between Stratford and the Devon section of Milford. The bridge is a 34-span plate girder structure with a concrete deck with three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction. The central span over the river's navigation channel...
- Crosses the Housatonic RiverHousatonic RiverThe Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
on nearby Interstate 95 - Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial BridgeIgor I. Sikorsky Memorial BridgeThe Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge carries the limited-access Connecticut Route 15 over the Housatonic River, between Stratford and Milford, Connecticut. The bridge was first referred to as the Sikorsky Bridge because Sikorsky Aircraft is headquartered just north of the bridge...
- Crosses the Housatonic RiverHousatonic RiverThe Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
on nearby Route 15Route 15 (Connecticut)Route 15 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut that runs from a connection with New York's Hutchinson River Parkway in Greenwich, Connecticut to its northern terminus intersecting with Interstate 84 in East Hartford, Connecticut...