Vietnam Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Vietnam Memorial Bridge (aka Holyoke Bridge, South Hadley Falls Bridge, and County Bridge) is a girder bridge
that spans the Connecticut River
between South Hadley
and Holyoke, Massachusetts
. It was built in 1889 by New Jersey Steel and Iron Company and was designed by Edward S. Shaw.
, and was rebuilt in 1990.
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:...
that spans 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...
between South Hadley
South Hadley, Massachusetts
South Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,514 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
. It was built in 1889 by New Jersey Steel and Iron Company and was designed by Edward S. Shaw.
History and construction of the bridge
The bridge was built in 1889 by the New Jersey Steel and Iron Company based in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, and was rebuilt in 1990.