Nutty Narrows Bridge
Nutty Narrows Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 46°08′29″N 122°56′26″W / 46.1414°N 122.9406°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. The local Sandbaggers plan to add to this number yearly.[citation needed]
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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Kelso / Longview Washington". Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ 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)
- Buildings and structures in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Longview, Washington
- National Register of Historic Places in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Roadside attractions in Washington (state)
- Visitor attractions in Cowlitz County, Washington
- Bridges in Washington (state)