Million Dollar Bridge, Bascule bridge in Portland, Maine, US
The Million Dollar Bridge is a bascule bridge crossing the Fore River between Portland and South Portland, allowing boats to pass underneath with roughly 30 feet (9 meters) of clearance. The structure connected these communities for vehicle and pedestrian traffic and served as a primary route across the river for many decades.
Construction began after permits were approved in 1893, with the bridge opening in 1916 as a significant advancement in Maine transportation. The structure was transferred from Cumberland County control to the Maine Department of Transportation in 1959.
The bridge represented early 20th-century transportation infrastructure development in Maine, connecting communities across the Fore River for vehicles and pedestrians.
The bridge remains accessible from both sides of the river, though it is no longer in service for through traffic after the opening of the nearby Casco Bay Bridge in 1997. The newer structure provided increased navigational clearance, allowing larger vessels to pass through more easily.
In September 1996, the Liberian tankship Julie N collided with the structure during construction of its replacement, requiring emergency repairs at a critical moment. The incident highlighted navigation challenges that made the taller replacement bridge necessary.
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