Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory, Bridge observatory in Prospect, United States
This bridge carries a public observatory and spans the river between Verona Island and the mainland over 2,120 feet (646 meters), with its two towers rising 447 feet (136 meters) above the water. The west tower houses a visitor platform reached by elevator, offering views in all directions across the valley and hills.
Construction finished in December 2006 to replace the old crossing from 1931, bringing a modern route to this coastal region. Engineers used carbon fiber strands in the design, making this the first such structure in the United States.
Engineers integrated carbon fiber strands into the bridge design in 2007, establishing it as the first construction in the United States to use this material.
The observatory opens from May through October and follows the same hours as nearby Fort Knox. The elevator takes visitors directly to the viewing platform, so no stairs need to be climbed.
The tower holds the highest public bridge observatory anywhere in the world, letting visitors see the river and surrounding mountains from every direction. On clear days the view reaches far beyond the coastline into inland Maine.
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