Willimansett Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Willimansett Bridge is a steel truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
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 Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
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 carries Massachusetts state routes 116
Massachusetts Route 116
Route 116 is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. The route runs from Springfield through mill towns, college towns and rural towns, crossing the Connecticut River three times before finally ending in Adams.-Route description:...
and 141
Massachusetts Route 141
Route 141 is a west–east state highway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its western terminus is at Route 10 in Easthampton. Its eastern terminus is at U.S...
.
History
The bridge was built in 1891 by Richard F. Hawkins Ironworks(superstructure) and Wright Lyons and Company (substructure) with Edward S. Shaw as engineer at an original cost of $178,326.69.The bridge received new weight restrictions in the summer of 2007. A refurbishment project began in August 2011. The $19 million project includes bridge deck replacement, sidewalk replacement, bridge rail replacement, substructure repairs, cleaning & painting of structural steel. Girders, steel trusses and one or more of the piers will be replaced. The bridge is closed to traffic during the 2.5 year planned construction but will still be usable by pedestrians.