Berkley-Dighton Bridge
Encyclopedia
The fourth Berkley–Dighton Bridge will be a four-span concrete arch bridge
with closed spandrel walls of cast-in-place concrete, using pile-supported abutments and piers. The bridge will be made such that it will appear to be constructed of stone masonry rather than concrete. The two end spans will be 74 feet (23 m) and the two center spans will be 92 feet (28 m) for a total bridge length of approximately 350 feet (110 m).
Bridges at this location are the only crossing over the Taunton River
between the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Fall River
and the Weir Street Bridge in Taunton
.
Since August 2010, a temporary bridge has been in use while the fourth bridge is built.
The third bridge
was dedicated in 1896 and demolished in 2010.
Proposals for the new bridge were discussed for many years, starting no later than 1975. The Massachusetts Highway Department
(MHD) is now replacing the Berkley–Dighton Bridge because it was seriously structurally deficient, its gears often jammed in the open position, forcing travelers miles to the north or south, and due to the inability for the bridge to handle emergency vehicles. The MHD estimates (2001 data) that 6,200 cars crossed the bridge each day. Bridge upgrade plans met with opposition
for a variety of reasons, including concerns about the impact on local traffic. Commercial trucks were not allowed to use the old bridge. Also, the traffic lights are only triggered by cars stopping on a line in the road. This is very problematic for people not familiar with the bridge.
The replacement bridge will be a fixed structure, consisting of four pre-cast arch spans with closed spandrel walls of cast-in-place concrete, with approximately the same footprint as the existing bridge, using pile-supported abutments and piers
. The finished bridge will be made such that it will appear to be constructed of stone masonry
rather than concrete. The two end spans will be 74 feet (22.6 m) and the two center spans will be 92 feet (28 m) for a total bridge length of approximately 350 feet (106.7 m).
It will be wider than the previous bridge by a total of approximately 12 feet (3.7 m), split between both sides of the old bridge, for a total of 32 feet (9.8 m) defined as two traffic lanes plus a 5.5 feet (1.7 m) sidewalk on the south side of the bridge, similar to the existing bridge. A minimum of 12 feet (3.7 m) vertical clearance must be maintained from the mean high water line at the main span, requiring the roadway to be raised approximately 8.25 feet (2.5 m) higher than its current level. Other improvements include ADA-compliant sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, and driveway transitions, as well as better drainage, curbing, signage, guardrail, and pavement markings.
The third Berkley–Dighton Bridge was a paved one-lane swing-span bridge connecting the towns of Berkley
and Dighton
, Massachusetts. Built in 1896, it was the third at that location, and was demolished in September and October 2010.
.
Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in Autumn 2011.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
with closed spandrel walls of cast-in-place concrete, using pile-supported abutments and piers. The bridge will be made such that it will appear to be constructed of stone masonry rather than concrete. The two end spans will be 74 feet (23 m) and the two center spans will be 92 feet (28 m) for a total bridge length of approximately 350 feet (110 m).
Bridges at this location are the only crossing over the Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River , is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater...
between the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
and the Weir Street Bridge in Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
.
Since August 2010, a temporary bridge has been in use while the fourth bridge is built.
History
The first bridge at the site was built in 1801. There was no bridge on the site from 1853 to 1873.The third bridge
Berkley–Dighton Bridge (1896)
The third Berkley–Dighton Bridge was a paved one-lane swing-span bridge connecting the towns of Berkley and Dighton, Massachusetts. Built in 1896, it was the third at that location, and was demolished in September and October 2010....
was dedicated in 1896 and demolished in 2010.
Proposals for the new bridge were discussed for many years, starting no later than 1975. The Massachusetts Highway Department
Massachusetts Highway Department
The Massachusetts Highway Department was the former name of the highway department in the United States Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1991 until it became the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on November 1, 2009...
(MHD) is now replacing the Berkley–Dighton Bridge because it was seriously structurally deficient, its gears often jammed in the open position, forcing travelers miles to the north or south, and due to the inability for the bridge to handle emergency vehicles. The MHD estimates (2001 data) that 6,200 cars crossed the bridge each day. Bridge upgrade plans met with opposition
NIMBY
NIMBY or Nimby is an acronym for the phrase "not in my back yard". The term is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them. Opposing residents themselves are sometimes called Nimbies...
for a variety of reasons, including concerns about the impact on local traffic. Commercial trucks were not allowed to use the old bridge. Also, the traffic lights are only triggered by cars stopping on a line in the road. This is very problematic for people not familiar with the bridge.
The replacement bridge will be a fixed structure, consisting of four pre-cast arch spans with closed spandrel walls of cast-in-place concrete, with approximately the same footprint as the existing bridge, using pile-supported abutments and piers
Deep foundation
A deep foundation is a type of foundation distinguished from shallow foundations by the depth they are embedded into the ground. There are many reasons a geotechnical engineer would recommend a deep foundation over a shallow foundation, but some of the common reasons are very large design loads, a...
. The finished bridge will be made such that it will appear to be constructed of stone masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
rather than concrete. The two end spans will be 74 feet (22.6 m) and the two center spans will be 92 feet (28 m) for a total bridge length of approximately 350 feet (106.7 m).
It will be wider than the previous bridge by a total of approximately 12 feet (3.7 m), split between both sides of the old bridge, for a total of 32 feet (9.8 m) defined as two traffic lanes plus a 5.5 feet (1.7 m) sidewalk on the south side of the bridge, similar to the existing bridge. A minimum of 12 feet (3.7 m) vertical clearance must be maintained from the mean high water line at the main span, requiring the roadway to be raised approximately 8.25 feet (2.5 m) higher than its current level. Other improvements include ADA-compliant sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, and driveway transitions, as well as better drainage, curbing, signage, guardrail, and pavement markings.
Preceding bridge
The third Berkley–Dighton Bridge was a paved one-lane swing-span bridge connecting the towns of Berkley
Berkley, Massachusetts
Berkley is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.-Geography:...
and Dighton
Dighton, Massachusetts
Dighton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,175 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the western shore of the Taunton River in the southeastern part of the state.- History :...
, Massachusetts. Built in 1896, it was the third at that location, and was demolished in September and October 2010.
Temporary bridge
A temporary one-lane bridge with sidewalk has been provided during construction to the south of the permanent bridge site. The temporary bridge has improved weight capacity, allowing emergency vehicles to use it. This bridge is open as of August 16, 2010. The structure is a 3rd generation Bailey bridgeBailey bridge
The Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
.
Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in Autumn 2011.