Stone Bridge, Bascule bridge in Rhode Island, US.
Stone Bridge is a bascule bridge made of stone and steel that spans the Seekonk River in Rhode Island. A counterweight system lifts the main deck when boats need to pass through the waterway below.
The bridge was built in 1907 to connect communities on both sides of the Seekonk River. From the start it was designed to serve both road traffic and river navigation at the same time.
The name Stone Bridge comes directly from the material used to build it, which sets it apart from most movable bridges of its kind. Visitors crossing it can see how the stone structure and the metal lifting parts sit side by side.
The bridge is open to both cars and pedestrians, though traffic stops whenever a boat needs to pass through. It is worth allowing a little extra time in case the lifting mechanism is in operation when you arrive.
Most movable bridges from that period were built entirely in steel, but this one uses stone as its main material, giving it a look that seems out of place for a working drawbridge. The original counterweight and gears that raise the deck are still in use and visible from the bridge itself.
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