Nutty Narrows Bridge
Nutty Narrows Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 46°08′29″N 122°56′26″W / 46.141469°N 122.940494°W |
| Carries | Squirrels |
| Crosses | Olympia Way |
| Locale | Longview, WA |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Stressed ribbon bridge in imitation of a Suspension Bridge |
| Material | Fire hose and unknown metals |
| Total length | 60 feet |
| History | |
| Designer | Amos Peters, Robert Newhall, and LeRoy Dahl |
| Constructed by | Amos Peters |
| Construction end | 1963[1] |
| Opened | 1963 |
Nutty Narrows Bridge | |
| Location | Longview, Washington, spanning Olympia Way between 18th Avenue and Maple Street |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000500 |
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 2014 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Nutty Narrows Bridge is a squirrel bridge in Longview, Washington. It has the title of the "World's Narrowest Bridge" and also the "World's Narrowest Animal Crossing."[citation needed] The Nutty Narrows was named by a local councilwoman after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.[2]
History
Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid speeding traffic by running across the street to eat a nutty feast at an office building and back again to a park with large trees.[1]
On March 19, 1963, Amos Peters, after seeing many squirrels being flattened, decided to protect squirrels and give them a way to cross a busy thoroughfare without getting killed by passing cars. The original sky-bridge was built over Olympia Way near the Civic Center in downtown Longview.
Designed to look like a mini-suspension bridge, the 60-foot-long (18 m) span and made of an aluminum piping covered with a retired firehose to create the roadway. The total cost for the bridge was $1000.
In 1983, Peters took down the bridge for repairs. Crosspieces were replaced and the faded sign was repainted. Upon its completion, the bridge was re-dedicated with special guests Chip 'n' Dale and Mickey Mouse from Disneyland. Also in attendance were 300 children and local dignitaries.[3]
Upon Peters' death in 1984, a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in his memory.
Today
The anchor trees supporting the bridge were growing old and beginning to rot; so in 2007, the bridge was moved 100 yards east, connecting R.A. Long Park at the Civic Center to the Longview Public Library over Olympia Way.[3] It was moved again in 2010, after it was determined to be a traffic hazard. Its current location is now "three trees from its original spot over Olympia Way".[4] On July 25, 2013 the Longview City Council voted to place the Nutty Narrows Bridge on the Longview Register of Historic Places.[5] It is also listed on the Washington Heritage Register, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.[6] Two more bridges have been added to keep the squirrels safe. One is on Kessler Blvd. and the other is on Nichols Blvd.
See also
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cowlitz County, Washington
References
- ^ a b "The Nutty Narrows Bridge - City of Longview". Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ "Kelso / Longview Washington". Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^ a b "Nutty Narrows Bridge opens in Longview on March 19, 1963". August 16, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^ A History of the Nutty Narrows; The Daily News, June 5, 2011, pg A4
- ^ City Council minutes of July 25, 2013.
- ^ National Park Service (November 28, 2014), Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 11/17/14 through 11/21/14, retrieved November 26, 2014.
- 1963 establishments in Washington (state)
- Bridges completed in 1963
- Bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)
- Transportation buildings and structures in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Longview, Washington
- National Register of Historic Places in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Roadside attractions in Washington (state)
- Tourist attractions in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Bridges in Washington (state)
- Metal bridges in the United States
- Squirrels