Calvin Coolidge Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calvin Coolidge Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 42°20′11″N 72°37′04″W / 42.33639°N 72.61778°W |
| Carries |  Route 9 |
| Crosses | Connecticut River |
| Locale | Northampton, Massachusetts to Hadley, Massachusetts |
| Maintained by | Massachusetts Highway Department |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Warren deck truss |
| Total length | 1,440.94 ft (439.2 m) |
| History | |
| Construction begin | 1936 |
| Opened | October 12, 1939 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 34,900 |
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The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge is a big bridge in western Massachusetts. It connects the towns of Northampton and Hadley. This bridge helps Route 9 cross the Connecticut River, linking up with Interstate 91. It's a really important crossing for people in the area!
Contents
Building the Calvin Coolidge Bridge
The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge has five main sections. It uses a special design called a Warren deck truss. This means the road sits on top of a strong, crisscross framework. The bridge also has cool-looking stone towers at each end. These towers are decorated in a style called Art Deco. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. You can see carved eagles and special letters on the stone.
Why a New Bridge Was Needed
This bridge was built to replace an older one. The first bridge was destroyed in a big flood in 1936. The new bridge was paid for by the government. This was part of a plan to create jobs during the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a time when many people did not have jobs or money. Building bridges and other projects helped people find work.
Who Designed and Built It?
The W & L Engineering Company designed the bridge. They worked with Maurice A. Reidy and architects Desmond & Lord. The T. Stuart & Sons company built the bridge. It opened on October 12, 1939.
Honoring President Calvin Coolidge
The bridge is named after President Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933). He lived in Northampton for a long time. Before becoming president, he was mayor of Northampton. He also served in the Massachusetts State Senate and as governor of Massachusetts. You can find bronze plaques of Calvin Coolidge on the bridge's towers.
Unique Bridge Features
The bridge has large, impressive stone towers. They are about 15 feet wide and 27 feet long at the bottom. Some of these towers have bronze doors. These doors lead to small rooms inside.
The bridge also has a special steel railing. It's about 3 and a half feet tall and has a weathered green color. This railing includes posts for lights. The original lights were a special type that made a yellow-orange light. People didn't like this color much, so they were later changed to brighter, clearer lights.
Modernizing the Bridge
In 2001, the Massachusetts Highway Department started a big project. They spent $32 million to make the Coolidge Bridge better.
- The bridge was made wider, from 3 lanes to 4 lanes. This means there are now two lanes for traffic in each direction.
- The old bridge deck (the road surface) was replaced.
- The historic Art Deco railings and lights were fixed up.
- All the granite stone was cleaned and restored.
- A new 5-foot sidewalk was added on the north side of the bridge.
- The roads leading up to the bridge were repaired and improved.
A Historic Landmark
In 2007, experts decided the Calvin Coolidge Bridge was important for history. It was added to the Hadley Center Historic District. This means it's recognized as a valuable part of the area's past.
Traveling Across the Bridge
The Calvin Coolidge Bridge is a very busy spot. It's a main road between the college towns of Northampton and Amherst. Sometimes, traffic can get very slow here. This is why it's called a "bottleneck."
The road leading to the bridge is known by different names. In Northampton, it's called Bridge Street. In Hadley, it's called Russell Street.
