Casco Bay Bridge: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1987, the state of Maine in concert with surrounding towns concluded that the existing [[Million Dollar Bridge (Maine)|Million Dollar Bridge]], which was almost 70 years old, was inadequate for current needs. This bridge, also a draw bridge, had only two traffic lanes and offered severely limited clearances for maritime traffic. Given increases in tanker commerce and increased usage of the bridge, a replacement was decided on, and construction started in 1993. The Casco Bay Bridge was completed in 1997. |
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==Design== |
==Design== |
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Revision as of 23:55, 3 December 2009
Casco Bay Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 43°38′41″N 70°15′24″W / 43.644647°N 70.25656°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles and pedestrians |
| Crosses | Fore River |
| Locale | Portland, Maine |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Multi-Girder Bascule |
| Total length | 4,748 feet (1447.2 m) |
| Longest span | 285 feet (86.9 m) at movable span |
| Clearance below | 65 feet (19.8 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | August 1997 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 32,000+ vehicles per day |
| Location | |
 | |
The Casco Bay Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Fore River connecting South Portland and Portland, Maine, USA.
History
In 1987, the state of Maine in concert with surrounding towns concluded that the existing Million Dollar Bridge, which was almost 70 years old, was inadequate for current needs. This bridge, also a draw bridge, had only two traffic lanes and offered severely limited clearances for maritime traffic. Given increases in tanker commerce and increased usage of the bridge, a replacement was decided on, and construction started in 1993. The Casco Bay Bridge was completed in 1997.
Design
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The new Casco Bay Bridge has four 12 foot (3.7 m) wide lanes, with an enclosed walking/jogging lane on the eastern side of the bridge.[1] The bridge is supported by several H-piles, which are 7 feet (2.1m meters) thick concrete cylinders, on which steel girders sit on top of.[2] The new bridge has a much higher horizontal and vertical clearance that allow larger ships to enter further up the river, with the bascule having to open less frequently. Extra precautions were taken to ensure that the bridge had sufficient pier protection, as during construction to the bridge, the existing Million Dollar Bridge was struck by the oil tanker Julie N., which spilled several thousand barrels of oil into Casco Bay. The steel girders were painted red in order to make the bridge aesthetically pleasing.
The final cost for the Casco Bay Bridge was 130,000,000 dollars, making it the largest project undertaken by the Maine Department of Transportation.[1]