Straight Street Bridge facts for kids
The
Quick facts for kids Straight Street Bridge |
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The Straight Street Bridge in 2007
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| Coordinates | 40°55′35″N 74°09′58″W / 40.9263°N 74.1661°W |
| Carries | Straight Street North Bridge Street CR 650  |
| Crosses | Passaic River |
| Locale | Paterson, New Jersey |
| Owner | Passaic County |
| Maintained by | County |
| ID number | 1600014 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pennsylvania truss |
| Material | steel |
| Total length | 254.9 feet (77.7 m) |
| Width | 30.7 feet (9.4 m) |
| Longest span | 251.0 feet (76.5 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Clearance above | 18.5 feet (5.6 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Albert Fink |
| Engineering design by | Colin R. Wise |
| Construction end | 1907 |
| Opened | 1907 |
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The Straight Street Bridge is a special bridge in Paterson, New Jersey, that carries cars and trucks over the Passaic River. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a historic landmark!
Contents
Building the Straight Street Bridge
How the Bridge Was First Built
The Straight Street Bridge was finished in 1907. It has one main section called a Pennsylvania (petit) truss. This type of bridge design was first made for heavy Pennsylvania Railroad trains. It was not often used for roads. However, Paterson was a busy industrial city back then. This meant they needed a very strong bridge for all the heavy traffic.
The bridge was built on strong stone foundations called abutments. These foundations were actually from an older bridge. That bridge had been washed away during a big flood of the Passaic River Flood of 1903.
Keeping the Bridge Strong: Repairs and History
Why the Bridge Needed Repairs
The Straight Street Bridge got a major update in 2003. This project was done by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). Even though many parts were replaced, the bridge still looks very much like it did before.
What Was Changed During Repairs
- Parts under the bridge deck (where cars drive) were replaced.
- The sidewalks that stick out from the bridge were also replaced.
- Old, worn-out rivets (metal fasteners) were replaced with new bolts.
- A special steel barrier was added to protect the main parts of the bridge.
- New streetlights that looked like old ones were put in place.
- Any parts that were damaged were fixed or replaced.
- The original sidewalk railings were cleaned and painted, then put back.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
From 1991 to 1994, a survey was done to find important historic bridges in New Jersey. The Straight Street Bridge was found to be special enough to be listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
In March 1997, the State Historic Preservation Office agreed that the bridge was important. It was officially added to the New Jersey state register on January 30, 2018. Then, it was added to the federal register on March 22, 2018. This means it's now recognized as an important part of history!
