Calvin Coolidge Bridge Information
The Coolidge Bridge Reconstruction Project consisted of a number of improvements to improve the capacity and safety of the bridge, while maintaining and enhancing its historic character. Work began in the Summer of 2001 and was completed late Summer 2004.
- Widened the Bridge from 3 lanes to 4 lanes, i.e., 2 travel lanes in each direction.
- Replaced of the deteriorated bridge deck.
- Refurbished the historic Art Deco bridge railing and integrated light fixtures.
- Cleaned and restored all granite facing;
- Installed of a new 5-foot sidewalk on the north side of the Bridge.
- Repaired and improved the Bridge approach roadways.
Full reconstruction began at the intersection of Route 9 and Damon Road in Northampton and extended eastward approximately 2,940 feet across the Connecticut River, ending just east of the Route 9/Aqua Vitae Road intersection in Hadley.
Click here to view photos of the project
Structural Improvements: Support for the widened roadway comes from the existing floor beams which were lengthened by five feet on each side of the bridge to support additional stringers added along the exterior of the bridge on both sides. The existing T-beam superstructure on the Hadley and Northampton approach spans were completely replaced with a pre-stressed concrete box beam superstructure. On the steel deck truss main spans the existing floor beams were extended and new steel stringers were added to the existing steel stringers. The existing concrete deck on the main spans was replaced by a 5 inch steel grid deck, half filled with concrete.
Approach Roadway Improvements: On the Northampton approach, the existing roadway was widened by about 14 feet to match the proposed widening of the bridge as far as the intersection of Route 9/Damon Road. A 5-foot concrete sidewalk was constructed along the north side of the road and the existing traffic island was realigned to match the shifting lanes on the bridge.
On the Hadley approach, four 12-foot wide lanes and a 5-foot sidewalk were constructed, as well as a 12-foot wide turning lane for westbound traffic turning into Aqua Vitae Road.
Roadway Widening: A fourth travel lane was added to the Bridge in the Westbound direction to increase the traffic capacity of the Bridge. To accomplish the 12 foot roadway widening on the bridge, each of the massive Art Deco abutment pylons were narrowed by approximately 6 feet. The narrower cavity within the reconstructed pylons were filled with an inert material to ensure the pylons' structural integrity.
Pylon Modification and Rehabilitation: In consultation with the Northampton and Hadley Historical Commissions and with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, MassHighway developed a plan to modify the Bridge's large granite pylons to accommodate the additional traffic lane.
The portion of each pylon that faces the roadway was dismantled while the granite facing, bronze plaques, door assemblies, lanterns and carved stone panels were removed, cleaned, restored as needed and reinstalled on the rebuilt pylon. At completion of the rebuilding process, each pylon is narrower, but the long sides of the pylons with their incised lettering and bronze doors and lanterns or bronze plaques look the same from the sidewalk and roadway and have essentially the same dimensions. On the narrowed ends of the pylons the granite facing was modified to accommodate the narrower width. In order to maintain the existing spread of the wings of the carved corner eagles on the narrowed pylon ends, as requested by the three historical commissions, an 18-inch granite-faced, concrete addition was anchored to the back of each pylon, faced with stepped granite coursing so that it blends as much as possible with the existing granite detail. New granite facing, where it was needed to augment the salvaged facing, matches the existing.
In addition, all original granite facing was cleaned and restored. All stonework for the rehabilitation project was done by skilled stone carving artisans experienced in masonry restoration.
Railings: The 3-foot 6-inch high, welded steel Art Deco bridge railing and its integral light standard posts were removed, cleaned and rehabilitated. They were repainted to match the existing green color of the railing were needed, any deteriorated portions of the railing were re-fabricated to match. Because the decorative railing was not crash-tested to AASHTO standards, a Type BR2 metal crash rail was placed at curb for the length of the bridge. The crash rail is 12 inches high set on a 15-inch high concrete base.
The granite-faced, paneled approach railings were replaced as a result of the roadway widening and reconstruction of the pylons. The new concrete approach railings were faced with new granite facing of a size and color to match, as closely as possible, the original.
Light Fixtures: The original Art Deco light standard posts on the Calvin Coolidge Bridge were integral to the design of the bridge railing. The existing cobra head standards were removed and replaced with new decorative, "tear drop" style luminaries.
Historical Marker: A Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission historical marker, which stands on the north side of the Hadley bridge approach was removed, wrapped in a moisture-permeable material to deter rust, and was carefully stored in the MassHighway District 2 office in Northampton during construction. At the completion of construction, the marker was reset at a location as agreed upon by the Hadley Historical Commission.