Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory reopens to visitors May 18
Demolition of the 1931 Waldo-Hancock Bridge, left, began in November and continues this month. Named for the counties it connects, the bridge was replaced in 2006 by the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, right. (Photo by Ethan Andrews)
Demolition of the 1931 Waldo-Hancock Bridge, left, began in November and continues this month. Named for the counties it connects, the bridge was replaced in 2006 by the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, right. (Photo by Ethan Andrews)
PROSPECT — The Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory that spans the Penobscot River in Prospect, along Route 1/3, is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. The observatory stands 420 feet above the river, stands 447-feet-tall and offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
The observatory has been closed for safety reasons since November, when work to dismantle the obsolete, adjacent 80-year-old Waldo-Hancock Bridge got underway. For decades, the Waldo-Hancock Bridge linked the two counties by way of Prospect and Verona Island. It was replaced by the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in 2006.
In a press release Thursday, the state Department of Transportation announced that the observatory is set to reopen to visitors Saturday, May 18.
Hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 30, and between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31. Between July 1 and Aug. 31, the hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Final support cables were cut from the Waldo-Hancock Bridge May 16, enabling workers to clear the area of the observatory, according to the DOT.
"While work is still being done in the area, visitors will enjoy full access to the breathtaking views he observatory has to offer," said the DOT in the release Thursday.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is touted as the only bridge observatory in the U.S., and one of only four bridge observatories in the world. Since its opening, more than 130,000 people have visited the observatory, according to the DOT.
The two towers of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge were designed in the shape of the Washington Monument, which was partially built with granite from nearby Mt. Waldo. The bridge's design incorporates a granite theme to honor the significance that granite has had in state and local economy, and the observatory's floor is tiled in granite cut from a quarry in Deer Isle.
Related links:
• Waldo-Hancock Bridge demolition to start in November
• Dismantling the Waldo-Hancock Bridge
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Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.
Event Date
Address
Penobscot Narrows Bridge
Prospect, ME
United States
