Governor's Bridge (Patuxent River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor's Bridge |
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Governor's Bridge
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| Coordinates | 38°57′05″N 76°41′36″W / 38.95139°N 76.69333°W |
| Carries | Governor's Bridge Road |
| Crosses | Patuxent River |
| Owner | State Roads Commission |
| Heritage status | Historic American Engineering Record, Maryland Historical Trust |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pratt truss |
| Material | steel |
| Total length | 105 feet 6 inches (32.16 m) |
| Width | 13 feet 7 inches (4.14 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | unknown |
Governor's Bridge is an old, single-lane bridge that crosses the Patuxent River in Maryland. This river acts as a border between Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties. People have been crossing the river at this spot for a very long time, since the mid-1700s!
Even though many bridges are built this way, the current Governor's Bridge is special. It is one of only two "truss bridges" left in Prince George's County. A truss bridge uses a strong framework of triangles to support the road.
Contents
A Bridge Through Time
This spot has been home to three different bridges over the years.
The First Bridge: A Governor's Path
The very first bridge here was built by a person named Governor Samuel Ogle. A governor is a leader of a state, similar to a president for a country. Governor Ogle needed a way to travel easily between his home, Belair Mansion, and the state capital, Annapolis.
By 1817, the first bridge was too damaged to use. Instead, people used a "ford" to cross the river. A ford is a shallow part of a river where you can walk or drive across. On February 4, 1817, the State of Maryland asked Joseph N. Stockett and James Sanders to build a new Governor's Bridge.
The Current Bridge
The bridge you see today is a truss bridge. It was built in 1912.
Repairs and Closures
The bridge has needed repairs several times. In May 2013, it was closed because inspectors found problems. Major repairs started in January 2014, and the bridge reopened in March 2014.
Then, on March 30, 2015, the bridge closed again. Contractors checked it and decided it needed emergency repairs. In 2016, Prince George's County announced that the bridge was planned to reopen in 2019.
In October 2018, the county held a public meeting. They shared six different ideas for fixing or replacing the bridge. In September 2019, another meeting was held to get feedback on these ideas. As of March 2020, the county's website said that rebuilding the bridge was still being planned.
