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While many maps include all three spans as one "New
Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge", only the middle span between the two is the actual bridge. This span, which was built between 1897 and 1899, is the one which includes the 283.2-foot-long (86.3 m) swing truss across the main channel into the northern
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between the two communities. A short, 500-foot-long (150 m) span crosses between the mainland of New
Bedford just west of McArthur Drive to Fish Island, the smaller western island in the river. From there, after a 0.1-mile (0.16 km) stretch of highway connects the two spans, the main New
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half of the harbor. The entire bridge, approaches included, is approximately 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long, with the swing span being mostly west of the center of the bridge. The bridge still opens on a regular basis, with daily openings to allow the fishing fleet in and out of the inner harbor.
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Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge crosses from Fish Island to Pope's Island. This span includes the main span (see below). Once on Pope's Island, another 0.4-mile (0.64 km) stretch of highway connects to the third and longest span, a low, 0.2-mile (0.32 km)
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497:(MassDOT) to determine how the antiquated bridge might be replaced, and public meetings have been held to gain input on the needs of the region in replacing the structure.
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between Pope's Island and the town of
Fairhaven, with the town line falling on the bridge. The entire stretch is just over 1 mile (1.6 km) between the two shores.
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The bridge has been repaired numerous times in its lifetime, though there are occasional closings due to jammed gears.
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New
Bedford-Fairhaven Middle Bridge, Spanning Acushnet River on U.S. Highway 6, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA
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633:"What do you think of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge? Input sought on replacement project"
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List of bridges documented by the
Historic American Engineering Record in Massachusetts
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New
Bedford - Fairhaven bridge postcard of the bridge predating the 1899 bridge.
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As of 2024, MassDOT has announced it plans to replace the bridge with a
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658:"New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge to become a different type of bridge"
608:"State Seeks Designs for New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Replacement"
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between the two communities. The entire four lane stretch carries
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740:", 18 photos, 21 data pages, 1 photo caption page
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682:"About the New Bedford-Fairhaven Swing Bridge Reconstruction"
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In 2022, a $ 100 million planning study was funded by the
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The bridge is actually one of three bridges crossing the
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Buildings and structures in New
Bedford, Massachusetts
707:"New Bedford questions state plans for Route 6 bridge"
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Historic
American Engineering Record in Massachusetts
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Bridges of the United States
Numbered Highway System
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16:Bridge in New Bedford to Fairhaven, Massachusetts
193:61.7 short tons (55.1 long tons; 56.0 t)
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443:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
367:Learn how and when to remove these messages
495:Massachusetts Department of Transportation
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481:Learn how and when to remove this message
463:Learn how and when to remove this message
759:Bridges in Bristol County, Massachusetts
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284:is a swing truss bridge which connects
582:"New Bedford-Fairhaven Middle Bridge"
177:70.5 feet (21.5 m) (total width)
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789:1900 establishments in Massachusetts
734:Historic American Engineering Record
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441:adding citations to reliable sources
784:Steel bridges in the United States
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348:This section has multiple issues.
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637:New Bedford Standard-Times
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736:(HAER) No. MA-101, "
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558:United States portal
290:Fairhaven, Massachusetts
185:142.1 feet (43.3 m)
169:283.2 feet (86.3 m)
64:41.639158°N 70.917856°W
546:Engineering portal
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203:20.0 feet (6.1 m)
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213:5.9 feet (1.8 m)
69:41.639158; -70.917856
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502:vertical lift bridge
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306:U.S. Route 6
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182:Longest span
166:Total length
150:swing bridge
109:New Bedford
67: /
42:Coordinates
748:Categories
716:2024-03-16
691:2024-03-16
667:2024-03-16
642:2022-10-04
617:2022-10-04
591:7 November
564:References
353:improve it
255:Statistics
190:Load limit
55:70°55′04″W
52:41°38′21″N
612:1420 WBSM
424:does not
359:talk page
113:Fairhaven
89:US 6
686:Mass.gov
516:See also
270:Location
156:Material
445:removed
430:sources
247:Rebuilt
218:History
127:MassDOT
95:Crosses
80:Carries
239:Opened
146:Design
105:Locale
288:with
174:Width
160:Steel
123:Owner
593:2016
428:any
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280:The
250:1997
242:1900
234:1899
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
