Andrew P. McArdle Memorial Bridge, Road bridge in East Boston, United States
The Andrew P. McArdle Memorial Bridge is a road bridge spanning Chelsea Creek that connects Meridian Street in East Boston to Pearl Street in Chelsea. The structure uses a steel truss with a bascule design, allowing the roadway to lift for vessel traffic.
The bridge opened in 1954 and replaced a previous swing bridge at Meridian Street from 1901. It was named in honor of Andrew P. McArdle.
The bridge structure represents mid-20th century engineering methods with its split rolling bascule design that uses counterweighted spans rolling on semi-circular gears.
The bridge is accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles connecting two major streets between the towns. Visitors should know that the bridge occasionally lifts to allow vessel traffic to pass beneath.
The bridge carries approximately 23,600 vehicles daily across Chelsea Creek, with trucks making up 4 percent of the total traffic volume.
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