The Frederick Douglass – Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge (known as the Troup–Howell Bridge until July 13, 2007) is a triple steel arch bridge

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...

 carrying Interstate 490

Interstate 490 (New York)

Interstate 490 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It acts as a northerly alternate route to the New York State Thruway , leaving it at exit 47 in the town of Le Roy and rejoining the highway at exit 45 in the town of...

 over the Genesee River

Genesee River

The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....

 and New York State Route 383

New York State Route 383

New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...

 (Exchange Boulevard) in downtown Rochester

Rochester, New York

Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. The bridge, officially completed on June 18, 2007, replaced a 50-year old multi-girder bridge

Girder bridge

A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...

 situated in the same location.

General

The bridge is 364 metres (1,194 ft) in length, with the longest span, the arch-supported roadway crossing the Genesee, encompassing 140.9 metres (462.3 ft). In terms of width, the structure is 39.8 metres (130.6 ft) wide. The roadway on its surface is eight lanes wide, with four reserved for each direction of I-490. On a daily basis, the structure carries an estimated 71,640 vehicles over NY 383 and the Genesee.

The New York State Department of Transportation

New York State Department of Transportation

The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...

 is responsible for maintenance on the bridge.

History

Construction on the new bridge, then known as the "Troup–Howell Bridge", began in April 2004. To prevent the flow of traffic from being halted on I-490, the construction of the arch bridge and the demolition of the girder bridge were done in stages, which allowed a minimum of four lanes of traffic, two in each direction, to be open at all times. On June 18, 2007, the bridge was officially completed and fully open to traffic for the first time.

In a ceremony at the bridge on July 13, 2007, the bridge was renamed the "Frederick Douglass – Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge", honoring Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...

 and Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...

, both of whom had ties to Rochester during their lives.