Mystic River Bascule Bridge

Mystic River Bascule Bridge
Facing west on the bridge
Official name	Mystic River Bascule Bridge
Carries	US 1
Crosses	Mystic River
Locale	Mystic, Connecticut
Owner	ConnDOT
Designer	Thomas Ellis Brown
Design	Bascule
Total length	218 ft (66 m)
Width	85 ft (26 m)
Constructed by	J.E. FitzGerald Construction Company
Opened	1920
Daily traffic	11,800

The Mystic River Bascule Bridge

Mystic River Bascule Bridge in full-up position

The Mystic River Bascule Bridge is a bascule bridge, a type of drawbridge with counterweights, that spans the Mystic River in Mystic, Connecticut in the United States.

The bridge was designed by Thomas Ellis Brown of New York (formerly Chief Engineer of Otis Elevator Company) built in 1920 (see historical marker on site) by the J.E. FitzGerald Construction Company of New London, Connecticut and is of the Strauss Heel-trunnion type. It has a movable span width of 85 ft (26 m) and a total length of 218 ft (66 m). It has a movable span weight of 660 short tons (589 long tons; 599 t), with two concrete-filled counterweights, each of 230 short tons (205 long tons; 209 t). It is operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and connects the two halves of Mystic, allowing vehicle and foot traffic on Main Street (33 ft or 10 m wide) in the center of the tourist district of town. The bridge carries U.S. Route 1 with an average daily traffic of 11,800.

It opens approximately 2,200 times per year, with each opening lasting approximately 5 minutes. The opening of the bridge is driven by two 40 horsepower (30 kW) direct current motors, each weighing 1,400 pounds (635 kg). The bridge is greased and inspected every 100 openings or every two weeks during the winter. From May 1 to October 31 the bridge opens at hourly intervals, 40 minutes past the hour, during daylight hours. Outside of this time it opens on demand.

See also

• List of bascule bridges
• Media related to Mystic River Bascule Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 41°21′17″N 71°58′7″W / 41.35472°N 71.96861°W / 41.35472; -71.96861