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Waldo–Hancock Bridge facts for kids

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Waldo–Hancock Bridge
Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Bucksport, ME 1931-2006.jpg
Waldo–Hancock Bridge in 2001
Coordinates 44°33′38″N 68°48′07″W / 44.560692°N 68.801966°W / 44.560692; -68.801966
Carries US 1
Crosses Penobscot River
Locale Bucksport, Maine, (Hancock County, Maine)
Official name Waldo–Hancock Bridge
Maintained by Maine Department of Transportation
ID number (Bridge No. 2973)
Characteristics
Design Suspension bridge
Total length 2,040 ft (621.8 m)
Width 20 ft (6.1 m) roadway with
Two 3+12 ft (1.1 m) sidewalks
Height 236 ft (71.9 m)
Longest span 800 ft (243.8 m)
Clearance below 135 ft (41.1 m)
History
Construction begin 1929
Construction end 1931
Opened November 16, 1931
Closed December 30, 2006 (Demolished 2013)
Statistics
Toll 1931–1953
Waldo–Hancock Bridge
Location US 1,
Verona, Maine
Area 4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built 1931
Architect Robinson & Steinman
Architectural style Suspension
NRHP reference No. 85001267
Significant dates
Added to NRHP June 20, 1985
Removed from NRHP December 18, 2013

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge was a special bridge in Maine. It was the first long suspension bridge built there. It was also the first permanent bridge to cross the Penobscot River below Bangor. The bridge got its name because it connected Waldo and Hancock counties.

This amazing bridge was built in 1931. It served people for many years. In 2006, a new bridge called the Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened very close by. Because of the new bridge, the Waldo–Hancock Bridge was closed. It was then taken down in 2013.

The bridge was about 622 meters (2,040 feet) long. Its main part, between the two towers, was 244 meters (800 feet) long. It had two side sections, each about 107 meters (350 feet) long. The bridge had a road 6 meters (20 feet) wide for cars. It also had two sidewalks, each about 1 meter (3.5 feet) wide. The bridge deck was 41 meters (135 feet) above the water. This height allowed large ships to pass underneath. Building the bridge cost less than $850,000 in 1931. That would be about $12 million today.

Building the Bridge

Who Designed and Built It?

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge was designed by David B. Steinman. He worked for a company called Robinson and Steinman. The main parts of the bridge were made by the American Bridge Company. The underwater parts were built by Merritt-Chapman & Scott.

Waldo-Hancock Bridge Dedication Plaque 1931
Dedication plaque, 1931
Waldo Hancock Bridge Toll Ticket Books 1935
Toll ticket books, around 1935

New Ideas in Bridge Building

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge was very advanced for its time. It was one of the first bridges in the U.S. to use a new way of making cables. These special cables were made of twisted wires that were already stretched. This method was first used on the Grand Mère Suspension Bridge in Canada in 1929.

Using these special cables saved a lot of time and money. It meant fewer adjustments were needed when building the bridge. Also, the Waldo–Hancock Bridge cables were marked before they were installed. This helped make sure they were set up correctly. These new ideas, created by Steinman, were a big step forward for building suspension bridges.

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge was also the first to use a special design for its towers. This design, called a Vierendeel truss, made the towers look very artistic. It made the horizontal and vertical lines stand out. This cool and effective design was later used on other famous bridges. These include the Triborough Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Cost and Tolls

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge was known for being built very cheaply. It cost much less than the money the State Highway Commission had set aside for it. Because it was so affordable, they could build a second bridge nearby.

When the bridge opened in 1931, people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross it. This money was used to pay back the loans taken out to build the bridge. After 22 years, on October 31, 1953, all the tolls were removed. The loans had been paid off! The tolls used to range from 10 cents for a horse and buggy to 50 cents for a very heavy truck.

Bridge Repairs and Replacement

Why the Bridge Needed Work

As the bridge got older, engineers from the Maine Department of Transportation regularly checked it. Around its 70th birthday, they found a problem. The two main cables and the many vertical wires holding up the bridge deck were badly rusted. This meant they were not strong enough to hold the road and the cars anymore. It became clear that the bridge needed big repairs and eventually a replacement.

Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Bucksport, ME in July, 2007 after abandonment
The closed Waldo-Hancock Bridge in 2007, showing its temporarily repaired cables

Temporary Fixes and a New Bridge

Work to fix the bridge started in 2000. Companies like Cianbro and Piasecki Steel Construction Corp. worked on strengthening the cables. They fixed one cable at a time. In 2002, they realized the bridge was too damaged for a permanent fix. It would have to be replaced.

So, the work changed to temporary strengthening. In 2003, Cianbro Corp. was hired to add extra support to the south cable. They used special thick wires and new concrete anchors. This temporary fix helped the bridge stay safe until a new one could be built.

A brand new bridge, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, was built right next to the old one. The new bridge opened on December 30, 2006. On that day, the Waldo–Hancock Bridge was officially closed. Barriers were put up, so no cars or people could cross it anymore.

Taking Down the Bridge

Planning the Demolition

On February 14, 2012, the Maine Department of Transportation announced that the Waldo–Hancock Bridge would be taken down. The plan was to start that summer and finish by fall. The schedule was carefully made to protect two special animals: the Peregrine falcon and the Shortnose sturgeon.

Large barges were placed in the Penobscot River. Sections of the bridge were carefully lowered onto these barges. Today, only the concrete supports in the river remain. The MaineDOT worked with the United States Coast Guard to add lights to these supports. This helps ships navigate the river safely. A company called S&R Corp. won the bid to take down the bridge for $5.35 million.

Demolition Process

The demolition started a bit later than planned, on November 20, 2012. The first things removed were the bridge's flag poles. The entire demolition was finished in June 2013.

Waldo-Hancock and Penobscot Narrows Bridges 2007 and 2013
The Waldo-Hancock and Penobscot Narrows Bridges as seen from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory in July 2007 and July 2013, after the Waldo-Hancock Bridge was taken down.

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