The Revitalist

The Longfellow Bridge.
Crews removing fascia coping from the bridge.

This evening and every Thurs-Sun evening until October 12th crews will be removing loose steel decorative strips, fascia coping, from the Longfellow bridge. Each strips weighs approx. 200 pounds. The Globe article doesn't mention the final disposition of the strips. I assume that Mass Highway is putting them in storage for the planned restoration of the bridge. Fingers crossed. The article does mention that the work is monitored by police boats patrolling the river (wonder what that costs?).

The Longfellow's salt and pepper shaker granite towers are much beloved Boston landmarks. Following the Minneapolis bridge collapse, the state began a round of MA bridge inspections, including the Longfellow, which was already acknowledged to be in deteriorating condition. The fascia coping removals are the direct result of those inspections. Interestingly, the day before the Minnesota collapse, the Pioneer Institute released a white paper on infrastructure neglect in the state that highlighted the Longfellow.

The state is planning a full restoration of the bridge, now scheduled for 2010. A public presentation on the Mass Highway website highlights the planning, including the preservation issues facing the bridge. The department plans to correct previous repairs and alterations that were insensitive to the historic design. Also, it appears that they are looking to historic features to guide new improvements, like roadway lighting that replicates historic designs, railings that are sensitive, paint colors and finishes that are appropriate, and new layouts for pedestrian approaches on the Boston and Cambridge sides. A new lighting scheme that will highlight the arched trusses over the river is also planned – looks beautiful in the rendering.

Slide showing insensitive repair to bridge.

Proposed lighting scheme highlights the arched trusses.