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Coordinates: 42°36′41″N 72°33′07″W / 42.6115°N 72.552°W / 42.6115; -72.552
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{{infobox bridge
{{Infobox Bridge
| name = Turners Falls–Gill Bridge
|bridge_name=Gill–Montague Bridge
|image=IMG_3992-Turner-Falls-Gill-Bridge.jpg
| image = IMG_3992-Turner-Falls-Gill-Bridge.jpg
| image_upright = 1.3
|caption=
| caption =
|official_name=
| official_name =
|carries=pedestrian and vehicular traffic
| carries = pedestrian and vehicular traffic
|crosses=[[Connecticut River]]
| crosses = [[Connecticut River]]
|locale=[[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]] and [[Turners Falls, Massachusetts|Turners Falls]]
| locale = [[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]] and [[Turners Falls, Massachusetts|Turners Falls]]
|maint=
| maint =
|id=
| id =
|design=[[truss bridge]]
| design = [[truss bridge]]
|mainspan=
| mainspan =
|length={{convert|528.2|m|ft|0}}<ref>[http://massroads.com/?word=span&query_statecode=25 Massroads.com]</ref>
| length = {{convert|528.2|m|ft|0}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://massroads.com/?word=span&query_statecode=25 |title=Massroads.com |access-date=2007-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817101531/http://massroads.com/?word=span&query_statecode=25 |archive-date=2008-08-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|width=
| width =
|height=
| height =
|load=
| load =
|clearance=
| clearance =
|below=
| below =
|traffic=
| traffic =
|begin=
| begin =
|complete=1938
| complete = 1938
|open=
| open =
|closed=
| closed =
|toll=
| toll =
|map_cue=
| coordinates = {{coord|42.6115|-72.552|type:landmark_region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|map_image=
|map_text=
|map_width=
|coordinates= {{coord|42|36|40|N|72|33|11|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|lat=
|long=
|extra={{Location map | USA Massachusetts
|label =
|label_size =
|alt =
|position = right
|background =
|lon_dir=W
|lat_dir=N
|lat_deg = 42
|lat_min = 36
|lat_sec = 40
|lon_deg = 72
|lon_min = 33
|lon_sec = 11
|lat =
|long =
|mark =
|marksize =
|border = none
|float =
|width = 250
|caption = <!-- blank caption -->
}}
}}
}}


The '''Gill–Montague Bridge''' is a steel deck [[truss bridge]] crossing the [[Connecticut River]] in Massachusetts. It connects the Town of [[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]] with the village of [[Turners Falls, Massachusetts|Turners Falls]] in the Town of [[Montague, Massachusetts|Montague]]. The bridge carries automobile and pedestrian traffic.
The '''Turners Falls–Gill Bridge''' (sometimes called the '''Gill–Montague Bridge'''), is a steel deck [[truss bridge]] crossing the [[Connecticut River]] in Massachusetts. It connects the Town of [[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]] with the village of [[Turners Falls, Massachusetts|Turners Falls]] in the Town of [[Montague, Massachusetts|Montague]]. The bridge carries automobile and pedestrian traffic.


==History==
==History==
Before the bridge was constructed, a ferry known as "Bissel's Ferry" operated approximately a quarter-mile upriver from this site. In 1878, the ferry was replaced by an earlier bridge, known as the Upper or 'Red' Suspension Bridge—distinguishing it from the "Lower Suspension Bridge," at the current downriver site of the [[Turners Falls Road Bridge]]—which was 563 feet long.<ref>{{cite book
According to Charles W. Whittlesey, there used to be a suspension bridge here when he saw it in 1934 and 1936.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Whittlesey
| last = Whittlesey
| first = Charles W.
| first = Charles W.
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Crossing and Re-Crossing the Connecticut River
| title = Crossing and Re-Crossing the Connecticut River
| publisher = The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company
| publisher = The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company
Line 68: Line 38:
| location = New Haven, Connecticut
| location = New Haven, Connecticut
| pages = 25
| pages = 25
}}</ref> Damaged beyond repair in the devastating Connecticut Valley flood of 1936, it was replaced by the current bridge in 1938 and torn down in 1942 to recover materials for [[World War II|the war effort]]; its piers remain on the river banks.
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}</ref>


The current structure began construction on May 17, 1937 and was completed in September 1938. The bridge was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 1938. By 2010, the road deck of the bridge had become riddled with potholes and uneven pavement. A major renovation project began in summer 2010 and finished in 2014 at an estimated cost of $40.7 million.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=601585 |title=MassHighway bridge information |access-date=19 August 2010 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192052/http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=BridgeInfo&BRIDGE_NO=G04010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
The suspension bridge Whittlesey referred to was located about 1/4 mile above or east of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge. It was known as the Upper or 'Red' Suspension Bridge. It stitched Turners Falls to Riverside (Gill), Mass.
| title = Turners Falls-Gill Bridge begins 4-year journey to reconstruction
It was built in 1878 and removed in 1942 to regain materials for the war effort.
Prior to the 'Red' Bridge' construction, Bissel's Ferry operated at this site. The bridge suffered the effects of the 1936 flood but withstood nature's fury.
If not for the war recovery effort, the bridge would have met its demise as the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge would replace it. The 'Red' Bridge was 563 feet long.
The piers for this bridge remain in place along the river banks.
The current structure began construction on May 17, 1937 and was completed in September 1938.<ref>{{cite|Ed Gregory|date=February 2011}}</ref> The bridge was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 1938.<ref>{{cite|Ed Gregory|date=February 2011}}</ref> By 2010, the road deck of the bridge had become riddled with potholes and uneven pavement. A major renovation project began in summer 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2014 at an estimated cost of $40.7 million.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=BridgeInfo&BRIDGE_NO=G04010 |title=MassHighway bridge information |accessdate=19 August 2010}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news
| title = Gill-Montague bridge begins 4-year journey to reconstruction
| first = Diane
| first = Diane
| last = Broncaccio
| last = Broncaccio
Line 90: Line 50:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


==Image gallery==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<gallery>
Image:IMG_3998_Turner_Monument.jpg|Monument on the Gill, Massachusetts side of the Gill–Montague Bridge, with the text "CAPTAIN WILLIAM TURNER WITH 145 MEN SURPRISED AND DESTROYED OVER 300 INDIANS ENCAMPED AT THIS PLACE MAY 19, 1676"
Image:IMG 4000 Turners Falls dam.jpg|The Gill side of the Turners Falls dam shows the trio of Taintor Gates closed when this image was taken. With the dam closed, all the water from the [[Connecticut River]] is channeled through the [[Turners Falls Canal]].
Image:IMG_4001_Turners_Falls_Gill_Bridge_plague.jpg|This is the plaque on the northeast corner of the bridge. Click on the image to get the text.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of crossings of the Connecticut River]]

==External links / References==
* [http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=601585 Project status page]
* [http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=601585 Project status page]
{{reflist}}

{{Crossings navbox
{{Crossings navbox
|structure = Crossings
|structure = [[List of crossings of the Connecticut River|Crossings]]
|place = [[Connecticut River]]
|place = [[Connecticut River]]
|bridge = Gill–Montague Bridge
|bridge = Turners Falls–Gill Bridge
|bridge signs =
|bridge signs =
|upstream = [[French King Bridge]]
|upstream = [[French King Bridge]]
Line 114: Line 63:
|downstream signs =
|downstream signs =
}}
}}
{{Connecticut River}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Turners Falls-Gill Bridge}}
[[Category:Montague, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Montague, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1938]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1938]]
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[[Category:Bridges in Franklin County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Bridges in Franklin County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in the United States]]

[[Category:Truss bridges in the United States]]

[[Category:Gill, Massachusetts]]
{{US-bridge-struct-stub}}
{{Massachusetts-struct-stub}}

Latest revision as of 00:08, 15 January 2024

Turners Falls–Gill Bridge
Coordinates42°36′41″N 72°33′07″W / 42.6115°N 72.552°W / 42.6115; -72.552
Carriespedestrian and vehicular traffic
CrossesConnecticut River
LocaleGill and Turners Falls
Characteristics
Designtruss bridge
Total length528.2 metres (1,733 ft)[1]
History
Construction end1938
Location
Map

The Turners Falls–Gill Bridge (sometimes called the Gill–Montague Bridge), is a steel deck truss bridge crossing the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. It connects the Town of Gill with the village of Turners Falls in the Town of Montague. The bridge carries automobile and pedestrian traffic.

History

[edit]

Before the bridge was constructed, a ferry known as "Bissel's Ferry" operated approximately a quarter-mile upriver from this site. In 1878, the ferry was replaced by an earlier bridge, known as the Upper or 'Red' Suspension Bridge—distinguishing it from the "Lower Suspension Bridge," at the current downriver site of the Turners Falls Road Bridge—which was 563 feet long.[2] Damaged beyond repair in the devastating Connecticut Valley flood of 1936, it was replaced by the current bridge in 1938 and torn down in 1942 to recover materials for the war effort; its piers remain on the river banks.

The current structure began construction on May 17, 1937 and was completed in September 1938. The bridge was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 1938. By 2010, the road deck of the bridge had become riddled with potholes and uneven pavement. A major renovation project began in summer 2010 and finished in 2014 at an estimated cost of $40.7 million.[3][4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Massroads.com". Archived from the original on 2008-08-17. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  2. ^ Whittlesey, Charles W. (1938). Crossing and Re-Crossing the Connecticut River. New Haven, Connecticut: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company. p. 25.
  3. ^ "MassHighway bridge information". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  4. ^ Broncaccio, Diane (28 July 2010). "Turners Falls-Gill Bridge begins 4-year journey to reconstruction". The Recorder. Greenfield, MA. pp. A1, A8.
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