Lechmere Viaduct, Arch bridge across Charles River in Boston, United States.
The Lechmere Viaduct is an arch bridge spanning the Charles River with ten concrete arch sections, connecting Boston's West End to East Cambridge. The structure stretches approximately 1,700 feet and today carries Green Line streetcar traffic.
The Pennsylvania Steel Company and the architectural firm Holbrook, Cabot and Rollins built the structure, which opened to streetcar service in 1912. It became an important part of Boston's growing public transportation network in the early 1900s.
The viaduct carries thousands of Green Line passengers daily and forms a key connection between Cambridge and downtown Boston in the city's public transit network. It shapes how people move between these neighborhoods and defines the area's transportation landscape.
The viaduct is accessible to pedestrians and offers views of the Charles River, especially when walking alongside or crossing it with the Green Line. The structure is best appreciated during daylight hours when you can see the arch details and span clearly.
The bridge contains a rare movable bascule mechanism that allows certain sections to pivot upward, enabling boats to pass underneath. This mechanical system is rarely used today but remains an intriguing reminder of how earlier transportation planners needed to balance rail, pedestrian, and water traffic.
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