Did you know that there are only four bridges in the world with observatory towers? The tallest is right here in Maine and called the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. It is a 2,120 foot-long (650 meters) cable-stayed bridge that opened in 2006.
For our engineering friends, construction used a cradle system that carries the strands within the stays from bridge deck to bridge deck, as a continuous element, eliminating anchorages in the pylons. Each epoxy-coated steel strand is carried inside the cradle in a one-inch steel tube. Each strand acts independently, allowing for removal, inspection, and replacement of individual strands. The cable-stay system was designed with a system that uses pressurized nitrogen gas to defend against corrosion.
In June 2007, six reference strands within three stays were replaced with carbon fiber strands – a first in the United States.
Visitors can get in a very fast elevator in the west tower and ride 420 feet (128 m) or 42 stories to an observation deck for a 360-degree view of the landscape. Best part? It was a twenty-minute drive away from us!
