Crescent Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crescent Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 42°49′17.15″N 73°43′54.73″W / 42.8214306°N 73.7318694°W |
| Carries |  US 9 |
| Crosses | Mohawk River |
| Maintained by | NYSDOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Bridge |
| Total length | 1,229 ft (375 m) |
| Width | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Load limit | 79 tons (71.7 t) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1996 |
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The Crescent Bridge (also called Bridge 6) is a long bridge, about 1,229 feet (375 meters) long. It crosses over the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal. You can find it in a small place called Crescent, New York, which is part of Halfmoon in Saratoga County. This bridge helps U.S. Route 9 traffic go between Colonie (in Albany County) and Halfmoon.
Contents
Exploring the History of Crescent Bridge
The area where the Crescent Bridge now stands has a long and interesting past. Before any bridges, people and goods crossed the river using ferries. These were boats that carried things back and forth.
The First Aqueduct: A Water Bridge
The very first crossing at Crescent was not a road bridge, but an aqueduct. An aqueduct is like a bridge that carries water, usually for a canal. This one was part of the Erie Canal, sometimes called "Clinton's Ditch."
This first aqueduct was made of wood and sat on twelve stone supports. It was used from 1825, when the canal first opened, until 1842.
Building a Bigger Aqueduct
The Erie Canal was very important, so it was made wider in 1842. At that time, a second, larger aqueduct was built right next to the first one. This new aqueduct was called the Lower Mohawk Aqueduct.
It was about 1,137 feet (347 meters) long and 40.5 feet (12.3 meters) wide inside. It had 26 stone arches and was the longest aqueduct in New York State. The old 1825 aqueduct's stone supports were later used for a wooden plank road and then an iron toll bridge.
From Aqueduct to Road Bridge
The Lower Mohawk Aqueduct stood for 73 years. In 1915, the State Barge Canal took over from the Erie Canal. This new canal system needed a clear river for larger boats.
So, a new five-span truss bridge was built across the river in 1914. The old 1842 aqueduct and the iron toll bridge were taken apart. Today, you can still see a few stone pieces on both sides of the Mohawk River. These are all that's left of the old aqueduct.
Modern Bridges at Crescent
The truss bridge built in 1914 was later replaced. In the 1950s, a steel girder bridge was constructed. This type of bridge uses strong steel beams to support the road.
Finally, the current Crescent Bridge, which is also a steel girder bridge, was built in 1996. This is the bridge you see today carrying U.S. Route 9 over the Mohawk River and Erie Canal.
