John Greenleaf Whittier Bridge

The John Greenleaf Whittier Memorial Bridge was built in 2017 as part of a project to expand a 4-mile stretch of I-95 from three lanes to four lanes in each direction. This project also included the replacement of four adjacent bridges.

The previous bridge was built in 1951 when the New Hampshire Extension of the Yankee Division Highway was constructed. Many different bridge types were considered when this bridge was constructed, but it was ultimately decided to use a tied arch bridge (similar to the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges).

By 2013 the bridge superstructure had significantly deteriorated, and was carrying twice the load that it was originally designed for. It was determined that the structure could not be widened, so a new bridge was proposed. The new bridge is a pair of twin network tied arch bridges. The first bridge was constructed adjacent to the original bridge and was opened in June of 2016. This span carried two lanes each direction, which allowed the existing structure to be demolished in January of 2017 to make way for the twin span. The second structure was completed in October of 2018, and each structure was converted to carry one way traffic. The northbound bridge also carries a multiuse path, which is Massachusetts’ first shared-use pedestrian path attached to an interstate roadway.

The new bridge was designed as a through arch to tie back to the previous structure. However, the new bridge is a network tied arch bridge. At the time if its construction, this bridge was one of only 14 network arch bridges in the country. The new bridge included details that were on the previous bridge, including the Massachusetts state seal on the portal bracing of the steel arches and stone stamping on the concrete abutment and piers to replicate the original granite design.

Both the previous and current bridge are named after John Greenleaf Whittier, who was a renowned and influential nineteenth-century Quaker abolitionist and famous poet and writer. He was born and raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts and lived in Amesbury, Massachusetts as an adult. Whittier was an activist who fought against slavery and penned hundreds of poems, essays, and articles.