French King Bridge - 1932 - Erving-Gill, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 35.843 W 072° 29.762
18T E 705427 N 4719145
The French King Bridge, built in 1932, is an arch bridge that was awarded the "Most Beautiful Bridge" Award by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Waymark Code: WMRQFH
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/24/2016
Views: 6
At boundary between Erving and Gill, and crossing the Connecticut River, is the French King Bridge, which has a plate permanently in place giving the date of construction as 1932.
The bridge spans a deep gorge, where the river traverses below. HistoricBridges.org has the following specs about the bridge:
Structure Type: Metal Continuous Hingeless Solid Ribbed Spandrel Braced Deck Arch, Fixed
Construction: McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Design: Massachusetts Department of Public Works
What Crosses Bridge: U.S. Route 2, Mohawk Trail
Main Span Length: 460 ft
Entire Structure Length: 786 ft.
The plaque is on an iron fence near the eastern end of the bridge - the Erving side. The sign has the following on it:
"Built by McClintic-Marshall
Bethlehem Steel
Corporation
1932"
A Wikipedia article stated that around 1931 Bethlehem Steel acquired McClintic-Marshall Company, so this bridge was being built during that transitional time.
Parking is available on either side of the bridge, though the west side is larger.
Date built or dedicated as indicated on the date stone or plaque.: 1/1/1932
Date stone, plaque location.: On the Erving (east) end of the Bridge, along sidewalk (north side) on iron fence near end stone.
Road, body of water, land feature, etc. that the bridge spans.: Connecticut River
Website (if available): [Web Link]
Parking (safe parking location): Not Listed
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