Puneet Varma (Editor)

Million Dollar Bridge (Maine)

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Carries
  
SR 77 and pedestrians

Locale
  
Portland, Maine

Closed
  
1998

Clearance below
  
7.32 m

Bridge type
  
Bascule bridge

Crosses
  
Fore River

Design
  
Girder Bascule

Opened
  
1916

Location
  
Portland

Body of water
  
Fore River

Million Dollar Bridge (Maine) multifilespressheraldcomuploadssites4201507

Daily traffic
  
30,000 vehicles per day

Similar
  
Casco Bay Bridge, Bascule bridge, Tukey's Bridge, Casco Bay, Old Port

The Million Dollar Bridge was a bascule bridge built in 1916 which carried traffic on Route 77 over the Fore River in Maine between Portland and South Portland.

Permits to construct the Million Dollar Bridge were issued by the Secretary of War in 1893. The bridge was designed in 1914 and opened to traffic in 1916. The bascule span provided a horizontal clearance of 100 ft (30.5 m). Originally owned by Cumberland County, the bridge was transferred to the Maine Department of Transportation in 1959.

In 1993, construction began on the higher Casco Bay Bridge; the new bridge is on a new alignment just east of the original bridge, and is also a bascule bridge. During construction of the new bridge, the Million Dollar Bridge was hit by the Liberian Tankship Julie N. on September 27, 1996, and emergency repairs were made. The Casco Bay Bridge opened in 1997.

References

Million Dollar Bridge (Maine) Wikipedia