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New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge

Fish Island Bridge

New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: August 28, 2019

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
US-6 Over Acushnet River (Middle Channel)
Location
New Bedford and Fairhaven: Bristol County, Massachusetts: United States
Structure Type
Metal Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed (Rim Bearing Center Pier) and Approach Spans: Metal Deck Girder, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1896 By Builder/Contractor: A. & P. Roberts and Company of Pencoyd, Pennsylvania (Pencoyd Iron Works) and Engineer/Design: William Fish Williams and George Fillmore Swain
Rehabilitation Date
1997
Main Span Length
289.0 Feet (88.1 Meters)
Structure Length
675.0 Feet (205.7 Meters)
Roadway Width
50 Feet (15.24 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s) and 5 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
F01002

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

This bridge's future is at risk!

Bridge Status: This historic bridge is slated for demolition and replacement!

This ornate through truss swing bridge has been rehabilitated and continues to carry heavy traffic and operate for boats. The overhead bracing appears to have been replaced with replica bracing with the exception that bolts were used instead of rivets. Sadly, the beautiful ornamental sidewalk railing was replaced with a plain modern steel railing. However, the bridge remains a highly significant example of a large pin-connected swing bridge that still operates for boats. Such bridges are quite rare today. The bridge was built by A & P Roberts Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who were agents for the Pencoyd Iron Works. Steward and McDermott of New York, New York were also contractors on the bridge. The builder plaque no longer remains on the bridge. The original plaque as drawn in the original plans for the bridge is shown below. Note that the plaque shows the name of the contractor as "Steward and McDermott" although a number of sources report (perhaps incorrectly) the name as "Stewart and McDermott."

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Data Pages, PDF

View Historic Bridge Inventory Sheet For This Bridge

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Photo Galleries and Videos: New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge

 

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Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Video

Bridge Closing

Full Motion Video
Note: The downloadable high quality version of this video (available on the video page) is well worth the download since it offers excellent 1080 HD detail and is vastly more impressive than the compressed streaming video. Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.

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Maps and Links: New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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