Androscoggin Swinging Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Androscoggin Swinging Bridge
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Spanning the Androscoggin River between Topsham and Brunswick, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | John A. Roebling's Sons |
| Architectural style | Suspension Bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001404 |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 2004 |
The Swinging Bridge is a special pedestrian suspension bridge. It crosses the Androscoggin River in Maine. This bridge connects the Topsham Heights area of Topsham, Maine with the nearby town of Brunswick. It was built in 1892 to help workers get to the Cabot Mill in Brunswick.
Contents
What the Swinging Bridge Looks Like
This bridge has two tall steel towers. Each tower is about 30 feet (9.3 meters) high. They stand on strong concrete bases.
- Strong cables hang from the top of these towers.
- A wooden walkway, called a deck, hangs from these cables.
- Metal rods connect the deck to the main cables.
- There are railings about 3.5 feet (1 meter) high for safety.
The part of the bridge that crosses the river is 332 feet (101 meters) long. The main cables stretch for 520 feet (158 meters) between their anchor points. Each cable is about 1.875 inches (4.76 centimeters) thick. They are made of many strong wires twisted together.
History of the Swinging Bridge
The Swinging Bridge was built by the John A. Roebling's Sons Company. This company was very famous for building bridges. They also designed and built the amazing Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The bridge's story is connected to the French Canadian families who lived in Topsham and Brunswick.
Changes Over Time
In the early 1900s, the bridge's original wooden towers were replaced. New, strong steel towers were put in their place.
A big flood in 1936 badly damaged the bridge. Its main structure was destroyed. But the bridge was rebuilt in 1938. This work was done by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. The cables you see today are the original ones from when the bridge was first built.
Recent Renovations and Recognition
In 2000, the towns of Brunswick and Topsham worked together. They formed a committee to fix up the bridge. The renovation was finished in December 2006. New public parks were also built on both sides of the bridge in 2007.
A special ceremony was held on September 8, 2007, to reopen the bridge. Even some great-great-great-granddaughters of John A. Roebling attended!
The Swinging Bridge is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 2004. This means it's a special place in American history. In May 2011, it was also named a Maine Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This award came from the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Soon, the bridge will be part of a new walking path. This path is called the Androscoggin Riverwalk. It will be easy for everyone to use. The project is expected to be finished in the next three to five years.
