Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Magnificent Bridge


This magnificent piece of engineering is the Thousand Islands International Bridge, running from the US mainland north of Watertown, NY across to Canada. It marked its 70th birthday this year, with a big celebration in August. It was built in 1938 and the ribbon cutting was performed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minster Mackenzie King! How's that for some history! The bridge was built in only 16 months, at a cost of about three million dollars. It is beautiful as so many of these old bridges are. This particular part is the longest suspension section, eight hundred feet long, and it climbs to a height of 150 feet above the St. Lawrence River. Crossing this bridge is no ordinary ride, with views as far as the eye can see, up and down the river!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not only am I enjoying the photos but I'm especially enjoying the history lessons that accompany them. Makes the photos come alive.

Anonymous said...

Amazing...and to think they did it in 19 months back in 1938. A little bridge on Ferry St. in New Haven took 6 years to rebuild in order to reopen the road last week. Technology has it setbacks! They have been working on I-95 in New Haven for 15 years and they want to start to Q bridge - it will take 50!