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The Washington Bridge, also known as the Devon Bridge,〔(Meeting Minutes March 3, 2009 )〕 carries U.S. Route 1 over the Housatonic River in the U.S. state of Connecticut, connecting the city of Milford to the town of Stratford. Its geographic location is N 41.20037 by W −73.11039. It is considered architecturally notable by the National Register of Historic Places for its five arches. It is designated Bridge No. 327 by the state Department of Transportation.〔 The Washington Bridge is the longest drawbridge on the Boston Post Road. It is a steel trunnion-bearing bascule drawbridge. in length by in width, featuring two lanes in each direction for automotive traffic and a sidewalk for pedestrians. The clear channel for shipping is wide.〔()"State of Connecticut Highway Department Original Washington Bridge Plans" Accessed October 6, 2008.〕 The bridge, which cost $1.5 million in 1921, was the largest and most expensive project of the state highway department up to the date of its construction.〔 and (''Accompanying six photos, from 2003 (see captions on page 14 of text document)'' )〕 ==History== Prior to the current bridge there were two prior spans, serving from 1803 to 1894, and from 1894 to 1921 (see postcard image). The first noted transport across the river at this point was a ferry that began service around May 1758. The Sons of the American Revolution note that this crossing was likely used by George Washington on his journey from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts to assume his command of the Colonial Army in 1775. The first bridge at this point was proposed in 1803 by the Milford and Stratford Bridge Company, whom changed their name to the Washington Bridge Company that same year. The first permanent standing (wooden) bridge opened in 1813, complete with a toll.〔() Web page titled "A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut By Samuel Orcutt, Fairfield County Historical Society (page 437)" at ''Google Book Search'' Web site, accessed September 16, 2008〕 This bridge was rebuilt at least twice: once in 1807 when ice flows carried the bridge out to sea and again in 1868 when it was struck by the steamer Monitor.〔Images of Stratford, Stratford Historical Society, 1997 p78 ISBN 0-7385-0066-6〕 In 1844 Governor Roger Sherman Baldwin vetoed a bill requiring the Washington Bridge Company to make alterations to the bridge at its own expense even though the conditions requiring these changes did not exist when the bridge was originally built. The veto was overridden by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly. In 1845 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the act was unconstitutional in ''Washington Bridge Company v. Stewart''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Washington Bridge Company v. Stewart - 44 U.S. 413 (1845) :: Justia US Supreme Court Center )〕 The second bridge opened in 1894 and was built of iron for $88,500. It featured two fixed spans and a single swinging span in the center, with a walking path on the northern side. A trolley line was originally objected to by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad but was ultimately added in the southern lane.〔Images of Stratford, Stratford Historical Society, 1997 p78-79 ISBN 0-7385-0066-6〕 Built in 1921, the original fabricator of the current bridge was Bethlehem Steel Bridge. 〔() Web page titled "Biennial Report of the Highway Commissioner to the Governor By Connecticut State Highway Dept (page 36)" at ''Google Books'' Web site, accessed September 16, 2008〕 It was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell, a noted structural engineer with over 1000 structures to his credit. Originally the bridge supported two streetcar tracks and two lanes for passenger cars. 〔() "Milford" from Trolley Towns Website accessed October 6, 2008.〕 At the time of its construction, it was the most expensive project yet undertaken by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, costing $1.5 million.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Washington Bridge )〕 The Washington Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Washington Bridge (Connecticut)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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