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On our road trip to the Carrabassett Valley we saw a sign for a bridge.
But not just any bridge, no…
The Wire Suspension Bridge spanning the Carrabassett River in New Portland is a unique structure, the only survivor of four such bridges built in Maine in the 1800’s and probably the only such bridge still standing in the United States.
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Built in 1866, it’s definitely unique.
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The bridge was renovated in 1961, when the tower bases were capped with concrete, the towers were rebuilt, steel suspender rods were replaced by steel cables, and a new timber deck was installed. The tower framing timbers and main support cables are the original material. The span between towers is 198 feet.
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As you walk across it you can feel it sway .
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And when you watch a car drive across it the wood literally bends under the weight.
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Under the archway?
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Floor to ceiling graffiti.
Boo to that.
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Yay for autumn color though.
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An engineering marvel in its day….
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It’s stood the test of time and is still in use 158 years later.
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😊
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River's world..... 
Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s beautiful.
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When I was writing it I thought, Dan’s gonna love this.
😊
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I did!
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Beautiful bridge. Sways when you walk across it but cars are allowed? And 3 tons – meaning that if two full-size SUVs are on the bridge at the same time, you could be swimming. Many full-size SUVs weigh that much by themselves – then you load them up…
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It’s a one way bridge and people know not to follow too closely.
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Beautiful foliage, interesting bridges, predictable graffiti. I enjoy seeing where you go, not much like it around here.
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Thanks! We love to explore..
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Oh, wow. I had no idea there were suspension bridges in New England–and in the 1800s! Thanks for sharing that and the gorgeous foliage.
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Happy to share!
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A beautiful bridge with a lot of history. Shame on those who graffitied. But as much as I love looking at that bridge, my nerves would stop me going over.
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It was fun.
😊
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😊
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I’m intrigued as to why it can handle a 3 ton truck, but not somebody riding a pushbike.
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Maybe it’s because there are gaps in the wooden planks and it would be easy to get stuck?
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Ah, ok. That makes sense 😊
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That would be awesome to walk on without any cars.
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It was. The whole time we were there only two cars went across…
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Pretty sure I would find a way around using that bridge
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It was perfectly safe, we drove over it twice.
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