Joseph E. Muller Bridge
The Muller Memorial Bridge over the Connecticut River, with Mount Tom in the background
Coordinates42°12′58″N 72°36′28″W / 42.21611°N 72.60778°W / 42.21611; -72.60778
Carries US 202
CrossesConnecticut River
LocaleSouth Hadley, Hampshire County to Holyoke, Massachusetts, Hampden County; Massachusetts
Maintained byMassachusetts Highway Department
ID numberH210350VPMHDNBI
Characteristics
Designmulti-stringer Girder and Floorbeam system
MaterialSteel
Total length440.1 metres (1,444 ft)
Width19.2 metres (63 ft)
No. of spans7
Load limit52 Metric Tons
History
Opened1958
Statistics
Daily traffic23,491 (2018)[1]
Location
Map

The Joseph E. Muller Bridge is a crossing of the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts, connecting the communities of Holyoke and South Hadley. The bridge carries U.S. Route 202 (US 202).

History and construction of the bridge

Map of the Muller Bridge and South Hadley Falls Interchange Project; constructed in 1958-1959 for $3 million ($26.8 million in 2019 USD), the highway system was also created as a support route for the then-proposed Interstate 91[2]

The bridge was constructed in 1958 as part of a new bypass of U.S. Route 202 (Purple Heart Drive). The bypass was built in anticipation of increased traffic through downtown Holyoke heading towards South Hadley from Interstate 91, which was under construction at the time. Prior to the construction of the bridge, Route 202 used the nearby South Hadley Falls bridge (Vietnam Memorial Bridge) to cross the Connecticut River.

The bridge was named as a memorial to Holyoke native Joseph E. Muller, a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Location ID 2163, Transportation Data Management". MassDOT. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  2. ^ A report to Governor Foster Furcolo on the Massachusetts Highway Program and other Department activities, Sept. 12, 1959. Massachusetts Department of Public Works. 1959. p. 84.
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