Gold Star Memorial Bridge
Gold Star Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The two spans of The Gold Star Memorial Bridge from the New London side | |
| Coordinates | 41°21′51″N 72°05′15″W / 41.3642°N 72.0875°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles and a pedestrian/bicycle path on the south span  I-95 / US 1 |
| Crosses | Thames River |
| Locale | New London, Connecticut |
| Official name | Gold Star Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Twin Truss - Deck |
| Total length | 1,807.8 m (5,931 ft 1+1⁄4 in) / 1,941 m (6,368 ft 1+3⁄8 in) |
| Width | 24.4 m (80 ft 5⁄8 in) / 24.4 m (80 ft 5⁄8 in) |
| Clearance below | 41.1 m (134 ft 10+1⁄8 in) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1943 south span 1973 north span (twinned) |
| Location | |
 | |
The Gold Star Memorial Bridge is a pair of steel truss bridges that carry both Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 across the Thames River between New London, Connecticut, US and Groton, Connecticut. The bridge is the largest structure in the state with more than 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m2) of deck area, and the longest bridge in the state at 6,000 feet (1,829 m).[1] Its 11 highway lanes accommodate an average daily traffic of 117,000 vehicles.[2] The bridge is actually a set of twin bridges, but they are generally spoken of using the singular "bridge;" the local media and residents refer to it as "The Goldstar".
History
The current south span (northbound) of the bridge was completed in 1943 as a single span carrying traffic in both directions. It was part of Southeastern Connecticut's "free span" highway, a short 3.6-mile (5.8 km) long four-lane stretch connecting New London to Groton, Connecticut. As part of the new highway, the bridge's purpose was to remove automobiles from a previous bridge that carried U.S. Route 1 over the Thames River.[3] In 1951, the bridge was designated as the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in honor of members of the Armed Forces from Groton, New London, and Waterford who lost their lives during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.[4]
In 1958, the Route 1 bypass containing the Gold Star Bridge was connected to the Connecticut Turnpike by extending west to what is today the interchange of Interstates 95 and 395 in East Lyme.[5] East of the bridge, a 13-mile (21 km) bypass of Route 184 was completed to the Rhode Island border on December 12, 1964, officially making the bridge and both bypasses part of Interstate 95.[5] The stretch of I-95 containing the bridge is known as the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Highway.[6]
During construction of the north span (southbound) on July 1, 1972, the US Coast Guard Academy's three-masted barque USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) was involved in a serious accident with the bridge as she was returning to her berth in New London. The ship's foremast and mainmast caught the safety netting slung below the new bridge, despite extensive precautions, as she passed below the original span and the new span being built parallel to it. Both masts were snapped off about seven-eighths of the way up, the upper parts left hanging dangerously from the remaining upright masts. The ship had to undergo emergency repairs as a result.
The bridge's second span was completed in 1973.[7]
Design
The design is a pair of steel truss bridges, each composed of eleven spans.[8][9]
The posted traffic speed limit is 55 miles per hour.
The newer southbound span has a sidewalk/bike path accessible from Bridge St and Riverview Ave on the Groton side and Williams Street on the New London side.[10][11]
Gallery
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Panorama from the south, showing the northbound span and Amtrak bridge
Notes
- ^ "WTS CT Valley Chapter: 2009 Annual Awards Program" (PDF). Women's Transportation Seminar. April 8, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "2006 Traffic Volumes State Maintained Highway Network (Traffic Log)" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ Oglesby, Scott (November 30, 2009). "Connecticut US 1". Kurimi. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 13a-31. Gold Star Memorial Bridge named". Justia. 2005. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "Connecticut Turnpike". nycroads.com. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ James J. Fazzalaro (February 18, 2005). "STATE ROADS AND BRIDGES WITH NAMES COMMEMORATING VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS". Connecticut Office of Legislative Research. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ New London Day, July 1, 1972.
- ^ "Gold Star Memorial Bridge". Bridgehunter. March 19, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Gold Star Memorial Bridge". Structurae. February 28, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "BIKE NEW LONDON BIKE ROUTES, TRAILS, AND MAPS". Bike New London. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "2009 Connecticut Bicycle Map" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 14, 2011.[permanent dead link]
41°21′51″N 72°5′15″W / 41.36417°N 72.08750°W
External links
- Road bridges in Connecticut
- U.S. Route 1
- Interstate 95
- Bridges completed in 1943
- Bridges completed in 1973
- Bridges in New London County, Connecticut
- Bridges on the Interstate Highway System
- Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System
- Bridges over the Thames River (Connecticut)
- Steel bridges in the United States
- 1943 establishments in Connecticut