The Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge is a

pedestrian bridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

that opened on August 31, 2018. The bridge, which crosses

Storrow Drive Storrow Drive, officially James Jackson Storrow Memorial Drive, is a major crosstown parkway in Boston, Massachusetts, running east–west along the southern bank of the Charles River. It is restricted to cars; trucks and buses are not permitt ...

, is named in recognition of the celebrated courtship and marriage of Frances “Fanny” Appleton and

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...

, after whom an adjacent larger bridge is named.

Design and construction

The Frances Appleton Bridge was completed in 2018, at an estimated construction cost of $12.5 million. The bridge opened on August 31, 2018, and is owned by the

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. Th ...

. The bridge consists of a contemporary tubular steel arch with a main span approximately long over Storrow Drive via a wide deck that accommodates both bicyclists and pedestrians. The bridge is in length and was designed to comply with

Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA () is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ...

maximum slope requirements, and also to avoid large trees in the parkland while also maximizing views. The sculptural curves and lightness of the bridge make it appear to float above the parkland and its Y-shaped vertical supports mimic tree branches. Aesthetic lighting complements the narrow-beam pin lights that illuminate the walking path, creating a safe and interesting destination at night. The bridge enhances its historic setting while providing greater access and visibility to all users. Plaque Frances Appleton Bridge

References

External links

MassDOT Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project Website

Miguel Rosales: Building a Better Bridge for Esplanade
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626125521/http://backbaysun.com/2012/04/10/miguel-rosales-building-a-better-bridge-for-esplanade/ , date=2015-06-26
State seeks upgrade to Charles footbridge

Longfellow Bridge Project to Impact Traffic, MBTA Service

Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge Across Storrow Opens to the Public

Miguel Rosales Discusses Iconic Bridges at TEA Annual Meeting

Appleton Bridge Receives Arthur G. Hayden Medal

Officials, Residents Cut Ribbon at Fanny Appleton Footbridge
Arch bridges in the United States Bridges in Boston Pedestrian bridges in Massachusetts Steel bridges in the United States