Schell Bridge

Schell Bridge
File:IMG 4008-Schell-Bridge.jpg
Coordinates
Crosses	Connecticut River
Locale	Northfield, Massachusetts
ID number	MUN236002100
Characteristics
Design	Pennsylvania (Petit) truss bridge
Material	Steel
Total length	515 feet (157 m)
Width	19 feet (5.8 m)
Longest span	352 feet (107 m)
History
Designer	Edward S. Shaw
Construction begin	1901
Construction end	1903
Opened	1903 (1903)
Closed	1985
Schell Bridge Location in Massachusetts

The Schell Memorial Bridge is a steel cantilever Pennsylvania (Petit) truss bridge spanning the Connecticut River in the town of Northfield, Massachusetts. Designed by Edward S. Shaw, the bridge was built by the New England Structural Company of East Everett, Massachusetts. Construction began in 1901 and was completed in 1903. In 1985, due to advanced deterioration of the steel truss members, the bridge was barricaded and abandoned. The Schell Bridge is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

Despite recent efforts by preservationists to save the historic bridge, demolition of the bridge is currently being planned for the winter of 2018-2019 by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

After initially being scheduled for demolition by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in 2007 or 2008, efforts by local preservationists to save the historical landmark delayed the proposed demolition. In 2013, a group called "Friends of the Schell Bridge", which had been dedicated to saving the bridge, reversed course and sided with the state in favor of demolishing the historic bridge.

Preservation effort

A year-long engineering study was performed by the Picker Engineering School at Smith College, which determined that the bridge is structurally sound and is a good candidate for rehabilitation. There has been no accessible bridge crossing between East Northfield and West Northfield since the closing of the bridge in 1985, besides the large Route 10 bridge a mile to the South. Northfield is the only town in Franklin County to be divided by the Connecticut River.

It has been proposed that, if preserved, the bridge will be reopened only to travel by foot, bicycle, snowmobile, and emergency vehicle. It would be integrated into the tri-state rails-to-trails initiative connecting a series of recreational trails in northern Massachusetts, southwestern New Hampshire, and southeastern Vermont. The bridge would also be available for evacuations, especially important as Northfield is located only 5 miles (8 km) from the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

Application has been made to the National Park Service to add the Schell Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.

Image gallery

• IMG 4007 serious blockage.jpg

  This 2007 photograph shows a steel plate across the east portal of the Schell bridge. A similar one is on the west portal, since the bridge deck is rusting through. The top of the plate reads "Where the sidewalk ends." The plate has a "NO TRESPASSING" sign bolted to it as well.

• Metal Barrier.JPG

  View of the metal barriers while on Schell bridge. The barriers were put up to prevent people from crossing the bridge, but many (young) townies use it as a place to escape, especially during the summer, when many jump into the river.

• Schell Bridge - East Side.JPG

  View of Schell Bridge facing the east bank of the Connecticut River.

See also

• List of crossings of the Connecticut River

External links

• Friends of the Schell Bridge
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. MA-111, "Schell Memorial Bridge, Spanning Connecticut River on East Northfield Road, Northfield, Franklin County, MA", 8 photos, 42 data pages, 1 photo caption page