Brightman Street Bridge Replacement

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name=Brightman Street Bridge Replacement

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caption=Replacement Brightman Street Bridge, September 2007
official_name=Brightman Street Bridge replacement
carries=vehicular and pedestrian traffic
crosses=Taunton River
locale=Somerset, Massachusetts and Fall River, Massachusetts
maint=MassHighway
id=
design=two-leaf bascule bridge
mainspan=convert|200|ft [ [http://www.srpedd.org/Ch7bridges.pdf Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District] ]
length=
width=
height=
load=
clearance=
below=convert|60|ft
traffic=
begin=2007-05-17
complete=Fall 2012 (projected)
open=
closed=
toll=
map_cue=
map_

map_text=
map_width=
coordinates= coord|41|43|35.18|N|71|9|6.24|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=Miguel Corte-Real Bridge
lat=
long=

This Replacement bridge is a reinforced concrete bridge currently under construction over the Taunton River connecting Somerset, Massachusetts and Fall River, Massachusetts. The cost of this project is currently projected to be US$230M.

Name

Officially, this bridge is known as the replacement Brightman Street Bridge [ [http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=600792 MassHighway project status page] ] at this time. The name "Miguel Corte-Real Bridge" has been suggested for use on the new bridge. Other names are possible, as well as the option of retaining the current bridge's name.

History

Planning for this bridge started no later than 1998, but was delayed due to its funding being siphoned off by the Big Dig project. Construction finally began in May 2007.

Bridge features

Special features of the new bridge are:

* A fishing pier
* Bikeways

The two large piers in the image above are foundations for the two bascule leafs.

See also

* List of crossings of the Taunton River

External links

* [http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=600792 MassHighway project status page]
* [http://www.dfi.org/pubdetail.asp?id=1181 Deep Foundations Institute article (commercial)]
* [http://www.jaycashman.com/marine/portfolio_brightman.html Jay Cashman Marine project portfolio page]

References

Crossings navbox
structure = Crossings
place = Taunton River
bridge = New Brightman Street Bridge
bridge signs =
upstream = Berkley-Dighton Bridge
upstream signs =
downstream = Brightman Street Bridge
downstream signs =