United States Navy Seabees Bridge
Encyclopedia
The United States Navy Seabees Bridge is a through steel two-hinged arch bridge
over the Connecticut River
located between Brattleboro, Vermont
and Chesterfield, New Hampshire
. It carries VT 9 / NH 9.
The 1937 bridge is still in existence about 10 feet (3 m) downstream from the 2003 bridge, and is currently in use as a pedestrian bridge. This bridge won an award in 1937 like the Arrigoni Bridge
did a year later (1938) and the French King Bridge
did five years earlier (1932).
The 2003 bridge is of similar construction to the 1937 bridge, but built for heavier loads with a wider deck and more road clearance. It uses suspender cables where the 1937 bridge uses thin suspender beams.
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...
over the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
located between Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
and Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Chesterfield is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,604 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Spofford...
. It carries VT 9 / NH 9.
History and construction
There have been three bridges on this site. The 1937 and 2003 bridges still exist. An earlier suspension bridge was heavily damaged by the 1936 flood.The 1937 bridge is still in existence about 10 feet (3 m) downstream from the 2003 bridge, and is currently in use as a pedestrian bridge. This bridge won an award in 1937 like the Arrigoni Bridge
Arrigoni Bridge
The Arrigoni Bridge carries Route 66 and Route 17 over Route 9 and across the Connecticut River, connecting Middletown, Connecticut to Portland, Connecticut...
did a year later (1938) and the French King Bridge
French King Bridge
The French King Bridge is a three-span "cantilever arch" style bridge crossing the Connecticut River on the border of the towns of Erving and Gill, Massachusetts...
did five years earlier (1932).
The 2003 bridge is of similar construction to the 1937 bridge, but built for heavier loads with a wider deck and more road clearance. It uses suspender cables where the 1937 bridge uses thin suspender beams.