Joseph E. Muller Bridge Explained

Joseph E. Muller Bridge
Image Upright:1.3
Crosses:Connecticut River
Locale:South Hadley, Hampshire County to Holyoke, Massachusetts, Hampden County; Massachusetts
Maint:Massachusetts Highway Department
Id:H210350VPMHDNBI
Design:multi-stringer Girder and Floorbeam system
Material:Steel
Spans:7
Length:440.1m (1,443.9feet)
Width:19.2m (63feet)
Load:52 Metric Tons
Traffic:23,491 (2018)[1]
Open:1958
Coordinates:42.2161°N -72.6078°W

The Joseph E. Muller Bridge is a crossing of the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts, connecting the communities of Holyoke and South Hadley. The bridge carries U.S. Route 202 (US 202).

History and construction of the bridge

The bridge was constructed in 1958 as part of a new bypass of U.S. Route 202 (Purple Heart Drive). The bypass was built in anticipation of increased traffic through downtown Holyoke heading towards South Hadley from Interstate 91, which was under construction at the time. Prior to the construction of the bridge, Route 202 used the nearby South Hadley Falls bridge (Vietnam Memorial Bridge) to cross the Connecticut River.

The bridge was named as a memorial to Holyoke native Joseph E. Muller, a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Location ID 2163, Transportation Data Management. MassDOT. 2018-10-18.