Nutty Narrows Bridge | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 46°08′29″N 122°56′26″W / 46.14139°N 122.94056°W |
| Carries | Squirrels |
| Crosses | Olympia Way |
| Locale | Longview, Washington |
| Owner | City of Longview |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Catenary bridge in imitation of a suspension bridge |
| Material | Canvas fire hose and aluminum |
| Total length | 60 ft (18 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Amos Peters, Robert Newhall, and LeRoy Dahl |
| Constructed by | Amos Peters |
| Construction end | 1963 |
| Opened | March 19, 1963 |
| Rebuilt | 1983, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2010 |
Nutty Narrows Bridge | |
| Location | Longview, Washington, spanning Olympia Way between 18th Avenue and Maple Street |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000500 |
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 2014 |
| Location | |
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The Nutty Narrows Bridge is a squirrel bridge in Longview, Washington, United States. It spans Olympia Way near R. A. Long Park in downtown Longview, comprising a 60 feet (18 m) catenary bridge with a center section resembling a suspension bridge. The bridge was built by local contractor Amos Peters in 1963 and named by a city councilwoman, in a likely nod to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
The bridge was proposed after local tenants noticed that several squirrels had died while crossing the street in search of nuts. The proposal garnered national attention and was quickly approved by the city council. It was installed on March 19, 1963, and saw use by squirrels the following day. The bridge was removed for repairs and renovations several times in the late 20th century and remains a symbol of Longview.
The Nutty Narrows was moved from its original location in 2005 following the discovery of termite damage in the oak trees holding up its structure. Its new location, in the middle of a traffic circle, was determined to be a distraction to motorists and prompted a second move in 2010. The bridge inspired the construction of several other squirrel crossings in Longview and the original Nutty Narrows was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.