Bailey Island Bridge - Harpswell, ME
Posted by: 
nomadwillie
N 43° 44.992 W 069° 59.274
19T E 420463 N 4844566
This bridge is the only one of its kind in the US and the world.
Waymark Code: WMQ8QB
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 01/11/2016
Views: 1
South of the village the highway crosses Will Straits on Bailey Island Bridge, which spans the narrowest part of the channel, then curves to follow the line of a thin split to solid ground. The bridge, considered to be one of great beauty, is built of uncemented granite blocks laid honeycomb fashion, similar to a breakwater; it thus holds more effectively against strong spring ice-jams than would a rigid structure, and is kept in position by its own weight. The tides flow freely through the large cells of 'the honeycomb.' It is said that the only other bridge of this type is in Scotland.
pp. 258 Maine: a Guide 'Down East', 1937
The granite blocks are laid in cellular and open structure. First lengthwise and the crosswise in a crib style manner. No mortar or cement is used, however wooden wedges are strategically used to prevent some of the granite blocks from moving. The bridge was built this way to handle the swiftness of the tides and battering of floating ice.
Book: Maine
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 237
Year Originally Published: 1937
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