Governor's Bridge (Patuxent River)

Governor's Bridge

Governor's Bridge
Coordinates 38°57′05″N 76°41′36″W / 38.95139°N 76.69333°W / 38.95139; -76.69333Coordinates: 38°57′05″N 76°41′36″W / 38.95139°N 76.69333°W / 38.95139; -76.69333
Carries Governor's Bridge Road
Crosses Patuxent River
Owner State Roads Commission
Heritage status Historic American Engineering Record,[1]
Maryland Historical Trust[2]
Characteristics
Design Pratt truss[1]
Material steel[1]
Total length 105 feet 6 inches (32.16 m)[1]
Width 13 feet 7 inches (4.14 m)[1]
History
Constructed by unknown[1]

Governor's Bridge is an historic single-lane bridge over the Patuxent River near Bowie, Maryland. The river marks the boundary between Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties.

Although a common bridge type, Governor's Bridge is one of only two surviving truss bridges in Prince George's County.[1]

A bridge has been located on this site since the mid-18th century although the current bridge was constructed in 1912.[1] The first bridge was constructed by Governor Samuel Ogle to travel between his mansion in Collington and the state capital in Annapolis.[2]

The bridge was repaired in 2014 after structural deficiencies were discovered during a routine inspection.[3] It was closed in May 2013, underwent major repairs starting in January 2014, and reopened in March 2014.[4] The bridge closed again March 30, 2015, after contractors inspected the bridge and determined it required emergency repairs.[5]

The bridge is also closed intermittently because of high water, as the Patuxent River is prone to flooding.[6]

In fiction

It was the setting for The Ghost of Governor's Bridge, a 2010 work of fiction by Skip Stover.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lavoie, Catherine C. (1992). "Governor's Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 Maryland Historical Trust Property Number PG-74B-1 & AA-85I (PDF), Maryland Inventory of Historic Bridges, retrieved 5 January 2013
  3. ↑ Pompi, Jenni (April 26, 2013). "Emergency Repairs Close Governor’s Bridge Road Bridge: The bridge was temporarily closed by Prince George’s County on Friday afternoon". Bowie Patch (Planck LLC d/b/a Patch Media). Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Governors Bridge Road Bridge Re-Opens" (Press release). Largo, Maryland: Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T). March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ Pratt, Tim (March 31, 2015). "Governor Bridge Road bridge closed over Patuxent River". Capital Gazette. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Governor Bridge Natural Area & Canoe Launch". Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Ghost of Governor's Bridge by Skip Stover". Outskirts Press, Inc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.

External links

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