Division Street Bridge (Rhode Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Division Street Bridge
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Division Street Bridge in 2008; old I-95 Pawtucket River Bridge noted in the rear
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA |
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| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Cushing & Co., Horace Foster |
| MPS | Pawtucket MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003810 |
| Added to NRHP | November 18, 1983 |
The Division Street Bridge is a really old and important stone bridge in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It carries Division Street over the Seekonk River. This amazing bridge was built between 1875 and 1877. It cost about $95,000 back then!
The bridge is about 450 feet (140 m) long. It has nine stone and brick arches. People say it's the "finest and longest" stone arch bridge in Rhode Island. It's also a special symbol. It shows how the two parts of Pawtucket, separated by the river, came together. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Even though it's very old and needs some repairs, it's still super important for its history and design.
Building the Bridge
The Division Street Bridge is made of stone and brick. It has nine arches, each about 50 feet (15 m) long. The whole bridge stretches for about 450 feet (140 m). The road on the bridge is 27 feet (8.2 m) wide. There are also sidewalks on both sides, each about 7-foot (2.1 m) wide. The bridge stands about 45 feet (14 m) above the water.
The main supports of the bridge are made from strong granite blocks. The curved parts of the arches have special wedge-shaped stones called voussoirs. These stones help hold the arch together. The spaces between the arches are filled with granite and mortar. About 550,000 bricks were used to build the arch tunnels!
When it was first built, the road was made of granite blocks. The cracks were filled with tar. Today, it has modern asphalt paving. The parts of the bridge in the river also have extra reinforced concrete for strength. There are also cool iron walkways that stick out from the sides. These were made by a company called Crowell and Sisson.
The bridge was built from 1875 to 1877. We don't know all the details about who designed it. However, we do know that people started talking about needing a new bridge in 1871. In 1875, the town voted to build it. A group of people, including William R. Walker, helped oversee the project. Horace Foster was the main builder. The granite for the bridge came from towns in Sterling, Connecticut and Westerly, Rhode Island.
How the Bridge is Doing Now
The Division Street Bridge had its last major repairs in 1985. It's still open for traffic with no special limits. Experts check it regularly. In 2012, they said its main parts were in "fair condition."
However, the area around the base of the bridge in the river, called the "scour condition," is a bit tricky. This means the water might be washing away some of the ground around the supports. Because of this, the bridge needs more repairs. These repairs are estimated to cost about $9,834,000.
Since 1995, reports have said the bridge is "functionally obsolete." This means it's not quite perfect for today's busy traffic. In 2006, about 21,900 vehicles crossed the bridge every day. In 2007, even more trucks used it. This happened when the nearby I-95 Pawtucket Bridge was being rebuilt.
The amount of weight that can cross the Division Street Bridge has been lowered twice. Now, only vehicles weighing up to 18 tons are allowed. This helps protect the old bridge. It's also used as a backup route if the I-95 Pawtucket River bridge ever needs to close.
Why This Bridge is Special
The Division Street Bridge is very important for two main reasons. First, its design is special. It's the longest stone arch bridge in all of Rhode Island. That makes it a really cool piece of engineering history.
Second, it's historically important. It was built to connect and bring together two fast-growing neighborhoods in Pawtucket. These neighborhoods were separated by the Pawtucket Falls. So, the bridge became a symbol of unity for the newly formed Town of Pawtucket. Because of its unique design and history, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
