Governor's Bridge (Patuxent River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor Bridge |
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Governor Bridge
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| Coordinates | 38°57′05″N 76°41′36″W / 38.95139°N 76.69333°W |
| Carries | Governor 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 |
The Governor Bridge is an old single-lane bridge that crosses the Patuxent River. This river forms the border between Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland. The bridge is located near Bowie, Maryland.
People have used a bridge at this spot since the mid-1700s. The current Governor Bridge is a special type called a truss bridge. It is one of only two such bridges still standing in Prince George's County.
Contents
Bridge History
Three different bridges have been built at this important river crossing over the years.
The First Bridge
The very first bridge was built by Governor Samuel Ogle. He was a governor of Maryland in the 1700s. He needed a way to travel easily between his home, Belair Mansion, and the state capital, Annapolis.
The Second Bridge
By 1817, the first bridge was either too damaged or completely gone. People were using a "ford" to cross the river. A ford is a shallow place where you can walk or drive across a river. On February 4, 1817, the State of Maryland decided to build a new bridge. They hired Joseph N. Stockett and James Sanders to construct it.
The Current Bridge
The bridge you see today is a truss bridge that was built in 1912. A truss bridge uses a framework of connected triangles to make it strong.
Bridge Closures and Repairs
In recent years, the Governor Bridge has needed a lot of attention.
- On May 6, 2013, inspectors found that the bridge was not strong enough and needed big repairs. It closed down.
- The county agreed to fix it on October 21, 2013. Work started on January 6, 2014, and the bridge reopened on March 7, 2014.
However, the repairs did not last long.
- The bridge closed again on March 30, 2015, because it needed emergency fixes.
- In October 2018, the county held a meeting to discuss six different ideas for fixing or replacing the bridge.
- Another meeting happened in September 2019 to get feedback from the public.
- The county planned to repair and reopen the bridge. However, as of spring 2025, the bridge remained closed.
See also
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Maryland
