Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge |
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Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge in 2005
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| Coordinates | 41°44′31″N 70°36′49″W / 41.74194°N 70.61361°W |
| Carries |
CapeFLYER
Cape Cod Central Railroad Mass Coastal Railroad |
| Crosses | Cape Cod Canal |
| Locale | Bourne, Massachusetts |
| Maintained by | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Vertical lift bridge |
| Width | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
| Height | 271 feet (83 m) (towers) |
| Longest span | 544 feet (166 m) |
| Clearance below | 135 feet (41 m) (raised) |
| History | |
| Construction begin | December 18, 1933 |
| Opened | December 29, 1935 |
The Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a vertical lift bridge. It is also known as the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge. This bridge is located in Bourne, Massachusetts, near Buzzards Bay. It carries trains across the Cape Cod Canal. This important bridge connects Cape Cod with the mainland of Massachusetts.
Building the Bridge
Work on the bridge started in 1933. It was built by a government program called the Public Works Administration. The design came from expert engineering companies in New York. The United States Army Corps of Engineers oversees the bridge and the canal.
The main part of the bridge is 544-foot (166 m) long. When the bridge is lifted, there is 135-foot (41 m) of space underneath for ships. It uses two huge counterweights, each weighing 1,100-short-ton (1,000 t), to help it move up and down. The bridge officially opened on December 29, 1935. It replaced an older bridge that was built in 1910.
When it was finished, this bridge was the longest vertical lift span in the world! Today, it is the second longest lift bridge in the United States. The longest one is the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge between New Jersey and Staten Island, New York.
Keeping the Bridge Running
The United States Army Corps of Engineers owns, operates, and takes care of the bridge. In 2002, the bridge got a big upgrade. Workers replaced its cables, machinery, and electrical systems. This project cost $30 million and the bridge reopened in 2003.
The train tracks on the bridge are owned by MassDOT. The Massachusetts Coastal Railroad uses the bridge all year for freight trains. These trains carry things like refuse (trash). The bridge is also used by special seasonal trains. The Cape Cod Central Railroad runs tourist trains. The MBTA's CapeFLYER train also uses it. The CapeFLYER runs between Boston and Hyannis during certain times of the year.
