Carries Pedestrians Design Deck steel arch Construction end 2017 Total length 185 m Longest span 68 m | Crosses Storrow Drive Construction begin 2016 Height 6.4 m Width 4.3 m Longest span 68 m Locale Boston | |
The Frances Appleton Bridge is a pedestrian bridge in Boston, Massachusetts that is scheduled for completion in 2017. The bridge was named in recognition of the celebrated courtship and marriage of Frances “Fanny” Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, after whom an adjacent larger bridge is named.
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Description
The Frances Appleton Bridge is proposed as part of the master plan to restore the iconic 1908 Longfellow Bridge across the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge. The existing, obsolete pedestrian bridge next to the historic larger span will be replaced with a wider, ADA compliant bridge that will complement the arches of the older structure. The old and new pedestrian bridges both were designed to span Storrow Drive, connecting from near Charles/MGH (MBTA station) to the Charles River Esplanade near the Longfellow Bridge.
The new bridge deck arch will be contemporary in appearance and very transparent, in order to not obstruct views of the historic Longfellow Bridge, the river, and parkland. The slender main steel arch span will be on the order of 222 feet (68 m) long. The approach ramps will follow a similar architectural language, and will appear to float over the landscape before landing next to the river.
Design and construction
The Frances Appleton Bridge is scheduled for completion in 2017, at an estimated cost of $12.5 million. Bridge architect Miguel Rosales of Boston-based transportation architects Rosales + Partners provided the conceptual design, bridge architecture, and aesthetic lighting design. Preliminary design engineering was performed by Jacobs Engineering. STV, Inc will be the final design engineer and engineer of record. The design/build phase of the bridge will be completed by the joint venture team of contractors White-Skanska-Consigli, and overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will own the footbridge when completed.