Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge

Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
The bridge, seen in 2011
Coordinates42°22′08″N 71°03′48″W / 42.36889°N 71.06333°W / 42.36889; -71.06333
Carries10 lanes of I-93 / US 1
CrossesCharles River, MBTA Orange Line
LocaleBoston, Massachusetts
(North EndCharlestown)
Official nameLeonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
OwnerCommonwealth of Massachusetts
Maintained byMassachusetts Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignCable-stayed bridge
MaterialSteel, prestressed concrete[1]
Total length1,432 ft (436 m)
Width183 ft (56 m)
Height270 ft (82 m)[1]
Longest span745 ft (227 m)
Clearance below40 ft (12 m)
History
Construction cost$105 million
OpenedMarch 30, 2003 (northbound)
December 20, 2003 (southbound)
Location
Map

The Leonard P. Zakim (/ˈzkəm/) Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (also known as "The Zakim") is a cable-stayed bridge completed in 2003 across the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a replacement for the Charlestown High Bridge, an older truss bridge constructed in the 1950s.

The bridge and connecting tunnel were built as part of the Big Dig, the largest highway construction project in the United States. The bridge's unique styling quickly became an icon for Boston, often featured in the backdrop of national news channels, to establish location, and included on tourist souvenirs. The bridge is commonly referred to as the "Zakim Bridge" or "Bunker Hill Bridge" by residents of nearby Charlestown.

The Leverett Circle Connector Bridge was constructed in conjunction with the Zakim Bridge, allowing some traffic to bypass it.

  1. ^ a b Massachusetts Department of Transportation. "MassDOT — The Big Dig — Tunnels and Bridges — The Cable-stayed Bridge". Retrieved April 5, 2014.