Memorial Bridge (Massachusetts)

Memorial Bridge
Memorial Bridge
Coordinates	42°05′56″N 72°35′42″W / 42.09889°N 72.59500°W / 42.09889; -72.59500Coordinates: 42°05′56″N 72°35′42″W / 42.09889°N 72.59500°W / 42.09889; -72.59500
Carries	pedestrian and vehicular traffic (Route 147)
Crosses	Connecticut River, Amtrak
Locale	Springfield, Massachusetts to West Springfield, Massachusetts
Maintained by	Massachusetts Highway Department
Characteristics
Design	reinforced-concrete arch bridge
Total length	1515 ft (461.8 m)
Width	82.5 ft (25.1 m)
Longest span	209 ft (63.7 m)
History
Opened	1922, 1996
Memorial Bridge Location in Massachusetts

The Memorial Bridge (or Springfield Memorial Bridge) is a reinforced-concrete arch bridge that spans the Connecticut River between Springfield, Massachusetts and West Springfield, Massachusetts, constructed in 1922. The bridge is owned by Massachusetts Highway Department and is located on Massachusetts Route 147. It spans 209 feet (64 m) and rises 29.71 feet (9.06 m) above the river.

The Connecticut River was first bridged at Springfield in 1805, by an open wooden bridge said to have been "mongrel in style." It collapsed in 1814 and was replaced by a covered wooden Burr arch-truss bridge built by Isaac Damon of Northampton, Massachusetts. Partly rebuilt after a spring freshet in 1818, Damon's bridge survived into the 20th century, and was the structure which the present concrete arch bridge was built to replace. The 1814 bridge can be located by the position of "Bridge Street" in both Springfield and West Springfield, at approximately 42°06′00″N 72°35′46″W / 42.100131°N 72.596245°W / 42.100131; -72.596245.

In 1915, the Hampden County Commissioners opened hearings to discuss construction of a new bridge, but it wasn't until the winter of 1918/19 that the location and overall design of the present concrete arch bridge were finally agreed upon. The main construction contract (at $3,254,883 (US$77,060,000 with inflation)) was let to H.P. Converse on April 3, 1920; the completed bridge was opened to traffic on August 3, 1922. At the ceremonies held that day, the bridge was dedicated as a memorial to "those who had died as pioneers, and soldiers in the Revolutionary, Civil and Foreign Wars."