Slade's Ferry Bridge

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Slade's Ferry Bridge
Slade's Ferry Bridge postcard.jpg
Coordinates 41°43′14.99″N71°9′31.00″W / 41.7208306°N 71.1586111°W / 41.7208306; -71.1586111 Coordinates: 41°43′14.99″N71°9′31.00″W / 41.7208306°N 71.1586111°W / 41.7208306; -71.1586111 [1]
Carriesvehicular and rail traffic
Crosses Taunton River
Locale Somerset to Fall River
History
Opened1875
Closed1970

The Slade's Ferry Bridge was a steel swing double layered truss bridge that spanned the Taunton River between Somerset, Massachusetts and Fall River, Massachusetts. It carried rail traffic on top and included a swing span to allow river traffic through. It was built in 1875 and removed in 1970. The alignment of the bridge carried it from Remington Street in Fall River to the junction of Riverside Avenue, Brayton Avenue and Wilbur Avenue in Somerset. Originally, Route 103 continued across the river to the junction of Davol Street and Brownell Avenue, where it terminated at Route 138 and Route 6. Today Route 103 continues north up Riverside Avenue until it meets the two routes in Somerset. There is also a house located on the footing of the bridge on the Somerset side today.

Swing bridge movable bridge that has a vertical locating pin and support ring about which the turning span can pivot horizontally

A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its center of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right. Small swing bridges as found over canals may be pivoted only at one end, opening as would a gate, but require substantial underground structure to support the pivot.

Truss bridge bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss

A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements usually forming triangular units. The connected elements may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges. The basic types of truss bridges shown in this article have simple designs which could be easily analyzed by 19th and early 20th-century engineers. A truss bridge is economical to construct because it uses materials efficiently.

Taunton River river in Massachusetts, United States

The Taunton River, is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater. From there it meanders through the towns of Halifax, Middleborough and Raynham, through the city of Taunton for which it is named, the towns of Berkley, Dighton, Somerset, and the Assonet section of Freetown, to Fall River where it joins Mount Hope Bay, an arm of Narragansett Bay.

Picture of the bridge with Mechanics Mill in background. The bridge's access road wrapped around the far end of the mill to connect to Davol Street. (old) Taunton River in Fall River.jpg
Picture of the bridge with Mechanics Mill in background. The bridge's access road wrapped around the far end of the mill to connect to Davol Street.

See also

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