Northern Avenue Bridge Explained
The Northern Avenue Bridge, also known as the Old Northern Avenue Bridge, is a bridge that spans Fort Point Channel Boston, Massachusetts. Built in 1908, it was closed to vehicle traffic in 1997 and operated as a pedestrian bridge until December 2014 when it was closed after inspectors found that thirteen floor beams were unsafe for pedestrians.[1] In an October 26, 2015 letter, the Coast Guard informed the City of Boston that the bridge was a 'hazard to navigation' due to the risk of it falling into the Fort Point Channel and requested removal of its most vulnerable portion.[2] The center span of the truss also carried a single track for the Union Freight Railroad, although it was designed for two tracks.[3] From 1912 to 1948, the bridge abutted a floating firehouse for Engine 44 of the Boston Fire Department.[4] Following its closure as a road bridge, various redevelopment schemes have been proposed for the bridge, as well as outright demolition of the span.[5]
Replacement
On January 20, 2016, the Boston Globe reported that the City of Boston will spend $100 million to reopen the bridge, as part of its agreement to bring General Electric's headquarters to the South Boston Waterfront.[6] Two days later, the Globe reported that the bridge would instead be removed, and possibly replaced.[7] [8] Later in the spring, the City of Boston and the Boston Society of Architects sponsored an "ideas competition" for reconstruction or replacement of the bridge.[9] [10] [11]
In December 2019, city officials announced that the bridge would be rebuilt for use solely by pedestrians and bicyclists.[12]
Updated plans were announced in May 2020; design was expected to be finalized by the end of 2020 and construction to begin in 2021.[13] However, the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resignation of Mayor Marty Walsh.[14]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- News: Dungca . Nicole . City closes Northern Avenue Bridge in South Boston . 21 December 2014 . . 19 December 2014.
- News: City plans to start taking down Northern Avenue Bridge in March - The Boston Globe. BostonGlobe.com. 2018-04-02.
- Web site: Northern Avenue Swing Bridge, Spanning Fort Point Channel at boundary between Boston & South Boston, Boston, Suffolk County, MA. Historic American Buildings Survey, Engineering Record, Landscapes Survey. 21 December 2014.
- Web site: NON-EXTANT FORMER FIRE HOUSE 18 Northern Avenue (Northern Avenue Bridge), South Boston Engine Company 44 (Fireboat). Boston Fire Historical Society. 21 December 2014.
- Web site: Old Northern Ave. Bridge. Architectural Heritage Foundation. 21 December 2014.
- Web site: The city wants to reopen the Old Northern Avenue Bridge. Boston Globe. 20 January 2016.
- News: Leung. Shirley. City plans to start taking down Northern Avenue Bridge in March - The Boston Globe. 22 January 2016. BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. 22 January 2016.
- News: Leung. Shirley. Can the Northern Avenue Bridge be saved? And at what cost? - The Boston Globe. 22 January 2016. BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe.
- Web site: Boston launches ideas competition for new bridge. Bridge Design and Engineering. Hemming Group Ltd.. 14 March 2016. London. 8 March 2016.
- News: Harris . David L. . Here are the winning designs for a revamped Northern Avenue Bridge . . American City Business Journals . 2016-05-26 . 2016-05-27 .
- News: Logan. Tim. Big ideas (and lots of them) for the Northern Avenue Bridge. 28 May 2016. Boston Globe. 26 May 2016.
- Web site: 2019-12-11. City Embraces ‘People-First’ Design For Northern Ave. Bridge Replacement. 2020-08-12. StreetsblogMASS. en-US.
- News: Logan. Tim . May 7, 2020. City unveils a new Northern Ave. bridge design, Logan to begin work next year . The Boston Globe. 2020-08-12. en-US.
- News: Chesto . Jon . Boston has a stormwater problem . 29 January 2022 . Boston Globe . 23 November 2021.
