Long Island Bridge

Long Island Bridge
Crosses Boston Harbor
Locale Boston, Massachusetts and Quincy, Massachusetts
Other name(s) Long Island Viaduct
Owner City of Boston[1]
Characteristics
Design Warren truss
Material Steel, concrete and rebar
Total length 3,450 ft (1,051.6 m)[2]
Width 30.0 ft
History
Designer Crandall Engineering Company[2]
Constructed by Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Construction begin 1950
Construction end 1951
Opened August 4, 1951 (1951-08-04)
Closed October 8, 2014 (2014-10-09)
(demolished 2015)
Replaces Ferry service

The Long Island Bridge, sometimes referred to as the Long Island Viaduct, was a bridge in Boston, Massachusetts that connected Long Island to Moon Island. Both islands are located in Boston Harbor and are connected to the mainland via a causeway from Moon Island to the Squantum neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. Constructed at a cost of $2,000,000, the bridge was opened on August 4, 1951.[3] Before the bridge was opened, Long Island was accessible only by the ferry James M. Curley. The bridge was built to provide better access to Long Island Hospital, a public facility serving 1,200 chronically ill patients. After the hospital's closure, the bridge provided access to other city facilities on the island, including a homeless shelter, programs for patients with substance abuse problems, and a fire station.

Closure

In October 2014, all access to Long Island was cut off for the indefinite future since the then Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, took the warning of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation about the condition of the Long Island Bridge being unsafe. All those living on Long Island and being serviced by recovery programs or as guests in the homeless shelter were no longer able to go there or use it for services. They were abruptly relocated elsewhere on an emergency basis.[4][5]

Demolition

In January 2015, demolition of the bridge began with the central span section being removed and ferried away in February.[6][7] In a series of controlled demolitions, the remainder of the bridge was destroyed in March and April.

Future

The future of a replacement bridge is uncertain. Boston mayor Marty Walsh is exploring options, including building a new bridge whereas officials of the city of Quincy expressed opposition to the bridge being rebuilt.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Abel, David; Crimaldi, Laura (9 October 2014). "Harbor bridge closing brings hunt for new shelters, services". Boston Globe. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Long Island Bridge Bids to Be Accepted in About Two Weeks". The Boston Globe. 25 February 1950. p. 9.
  3. ↑ "Mayor Hynes Snips Ribbon, Opening Long Island Viaduct: $2,000,000 Bridge in Quincy Called Longest of Its Kind in United States". The Boston Globe. 5 August 1951. p. C26.
  4. ↑ "Mayor Walsh provides update on the Long Island Bridge". The Official Website of the City of Boston. November 26, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  5. ↑ Caesar, Chris (9 October 2014). "Boston Homeless Shelter Evacuated Following Bridge Inspection". Boston.com. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  6. ↑ McMahon, Shannon, "Boston Begins Long Island Bridge Demolition", The Boston Globe, January 5, 2015
  7. ↑ Finucane, Martin, "Portion of ailing Long Island Bridge is removed", The Boston Globe, February 25, 2015
  8. ↑ "Long Island Bridge demolition continues through March", The Squantum Scoop, March 1, 2015

Coordinates: 42°18′30.28″N 70°58′55.10″W / 42.3084111°N 70.9819722°W / 42.3084111; -70.9819722

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