East Washington Avenue Bridge
East Washington Avenue Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°11′10″N 73°11′20″W / 41.1861°N 73.1888°W |
| Locale | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Official name | East Washington Avenue Bridge |
| CT bridge number | 4252[1]: 24 |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 203 feet (62 m)[1]: 24 |
| History | |
| Opened | Original: 1836[2] Second: Unknown[2] Third: 1925[2] Fourth: 1998[1]: 24 |
| Closed | Original: Unknown[2] Second: 1917[2] Third: 1990s |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 1000 (in 2007)[3] |
| Location | |
 | |
The East Washington Avenue Bridge refers to the bridges that have connected East Washington Avenue over the
Original bridge
The East Washington Avenue Bridge serves an area that was previously known as Pembroke, the name stemming from the 1650s, that grew to become a prosperous agricultural community.[2] East of Pembroke was the village of Newfield, which was chartered as the borough of Bridgeport in 1800.[2] In 1821, it became the township of Bridgeport before being chartered as a city in 1836.[2][4] The need for the bridge arose when Reverend Birdsey Noble purchased 50 acres from Senator Wright; with the intention of selling housing lots. The location of the bridge was originally planned to be one quarter of a mile to the south, but it was changed through public opposition, and a toll bridge was constructed in 1836.[2] The description of this bridge and details of its service life and replacement have not been found in records.[2]
Second bridge
The design of the second East Washington Avenue Bridge is unknown, but the survey in 1916 for its replacement documented a cantilever through truss swing that was 184 ft (56 m) long.[2] The bridge was heavily repaired and remodeled in 1893, around this same period a trolley line was added.[2] Two decades later, the bridge needed to be replaced and restrictions were made to extend the service life of the bridge, with trolleys, then heavy trucks being banned. The bridge's service life ended in 1917 with its closure.[2]
Third bridge
The City of Bridgeport appointed a bridge commission to replace the aging East Washington Avenue Bridge on December 7, 1915.
Service life
The original bascule deck of creosote-impregnated yellow pine and the spruce plank sidewalks were replaced with concrete in the early 1940s.[2] In 1960, the original fender system was replaced.[2] In June 1968, the ornamental lamps were replaced with modern street lights.[2] A 1979 inspection of the bridge found it listed in "poor condition" and recommended repairs totaling $820,000 to be completed by 1985.[6] A 1980 report by the Connecticut Department of Transportation listed the East Washington Avenue bridge as 1 of the 127 bridges in "poor condition"; requiring "immediate" repair.[6] The report defines "poor condition" as serviceable and not in danger of collapse.[6] The Hartford Courant states that the 1979 report went unnoticed for four years and another inspection was carried out in 1982; also listing the bridge in "poor condition".[6]
After the Mianus River Bridge collapsed on June 29, 1983, a state-wide assessment of bridges began.[7] An engineering firm, Flaherty and Giavara, reported that a critical beam had nearly rusted through, prompting the bridge's closure. Bridgeport's mayor Leonard S. Paoletta said "the bridge could [collapse] at any moment."[6] The bridge was closed on July 26, 1983, around 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time as a response to Flaherty and Giavara's report.[7] Repairs were completed and the bridge was reopened on August 10, 1983.[8] The repairs billed at $5,000 were a temporary solution and the bridge was slated to close in February 1984 when $1.5 million in funds were unavailable.[9]
Current bridge
The bridge was closed in the 1990s and a replacement bridge was required.[1]: 25 In 1998, the demolition and construction of a modern bascule bridge replaced the previous East Washington Avenue Bridge.[1]: 25 The railings were upgraded and the original operator's house and connected toilet-building were restored.[1]: 25 In 2010, the current state of the bridge listed the deck and superstructure conditions as "Good" and the substructure condition as "Satisfactory".[3] In 2013, the East Washington Avenue Bridge was described by officials as rarely opening to accommodate marine traffic.[10]
See also
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Connecticut
- List of movable bridges in Connecticut
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Clouette, Bruce (2004). Where Water Meets Land: Historic Movable Bridges of Connecticut. Connecticut Department of Transportation.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Stewart, Robert C. (1995). "East Washington Avenue Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ^ a b "East Washington St over Pequonnock River". Ugly Bridges. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-144-35927-8.
- ^ "Only 2 Bids for East Washington Ave. Bridge job". Bridgeport Telegram. July 26, 1923. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ ProQuest 546990648.
- ^ ProQuest 424665724.
- ProQuest 547012249.
- ProQuest 547170475.
- ^ Juliano, Frank (July 27, 2013). "Repairs to key bridge are two years away". Connecticut Post. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CT-154, "East Washington Avenue Bridge, Spanning Pequonnock River at East Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, Fairfield County, CT", 31 photos, 47 data pages, 5 photo caption pages