The Memorial Bridge, also known as the Kennebec Memorial Bridge, is a bridge in
Augusta,
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
, that crosses the
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River (Abenaki language, Abenaki: ''Kinəpékʷihtəkʷ'') is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed June 30, 2011 river within the U.S. state of Maine. It ri ...
, joining the east and west sides of the city. It carries
U.S. Route 201,
U.S. Route 202,
Route 11, and
Route 100. The bridge is approximately 2,100 feet (640 m) long and has two lanes for traffic and a barrier-protected
sidewalk
A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick ...
for pedestrians on each side of the roadway. It was built in 1949.
Safety fence
The Memorial Bridge is located near a state psychiatric hospital, the
Riverview Psychiatric Center
Riverview Psychiatric Center, also known as Riverview Psychiatric Recovery Center, is a psychiatric hospital in Augusta, Maine, operated by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The center recruits for volunteers from the United Wa ...
. In 1983, after a number of deaths by suicide occurred on the bridge, an 11-foot‐high safety fence was installed on each side of the bridge. The fence was effective in deterring suicide by jumping.
In 2006, the fence was temporarily removed due to a renovation project, and this sparked debate on whether the fence was necessary.
See also
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References
Road bridges in Maine
Bridges in Kennebec County, Maine
Bridges completed in 1949
Former toll bridges in Maine
Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System
U.S. Route 202
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