Facts About the Waldo-Hancock Bridge
The Waldo-Hancock Bridge
Maine's first long-span suspension bridge is located near Bucksport, carrying Route US 1 and Route 3 over the Penobscot River between the towns of Prospect and Verona Island. The bridge was opened to traffic on November 16, 1931 and was a toll bridge until October 31, 1953. The main span is 800 feet long and provides a navigational clearance of 135 feet. The tower's cantilever vierendeel truss design deviates from the predominant archway design of most suspension bridge towers. The straight lines of the tower design blend with the natural rocky setting, the stern lines of nearby Fort Knox, and the colonial architecture of the local area. (From Maine DOT)
History of Highway One
Before the 1931 construction of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, travel along this section of US Route 1 was very different. Travelers heading east from Belfast to Ellsworth had two choices: detour 66 miles through Bangor or ferry across the Penobscot River to Bucksport. Although 27 miles shorter, the ferry route took longer as vehicles had to wait in line to cross.
By the late 1920s, the 125-year-old ferry service had become very inconvenient. The lines were longer because of growing traffic on Route 1. The opening of the Carleton Bridge between Bath and Woolwich in 1927 made the situation worse. More and more cars were traveling north to this part of the Coast.
Building the Waldo-Hancock Bridge
In1929, voters authorized $1.2 million to build the Waldo-Hancock Bridge. The new bridge was named for the two counties it connected. The $1.2 million was repaid by a 35ยข toll each way. Construction began in late summer of 1930 and continued through the winter.
Built in record time, the new Waldo-Hancock Bridge opened on November 16, 1931. It provided a vital link between the inland population of Maine and the international maritime commerce of the coast. At 2,040 feet, the central span was two-and-a half times the length of any highway bridge in the United States! The main span is 800 feet long and 135 feet above the river.
A magnificent steel structure, the Waldo-Hancock was designed by David B. Steinman of New York. Steinman sought to emphasize straight lines with simple elements in repetition and alternation. He described the trusses as "a new artistic type emphasizing horizontal and vertical lines" that were compatible with the "rigor of the natural rocky setting, the stern lines of adjacent Fort Knox, and the background of colonial architecture in the neighboring town."
Why a new bridge?
In 2002, the Maine Department of Transportation began a major overhaul of the main suspension cables and bridge deck. While repairing the cables, severe corrosion hidden from view was discovered. Engineers agreed the cables were too corroded to save. In a first-ever process, 16 new strengthening cables were added. Half the bridge's weight was transferred to these new cables. This assured the bridge's safety while its replacement is built.