NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Bridge of the Americas

The Bridge of the Americas (Spanish: Puente de las Américas; originally known as the Thatcher Ferry Bridge) is a road bridge in Panama, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Built in 1962, at a cost of $20 million, it was the only permanent bridge connecting the north and south American land masses until the opening of the Centennial Bridge in 2004. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x750, 110 KB) Photo of Bridge of the Americas in Panama, taken 2 January 2000 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Places Bridge of the Americas ... A canal tug making its way down to the Caribbean end of the canal waits to be joined by a ship in the uppermost chamber of the Gatun Locks. ... The word balboa, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language: Vasco NÃºÃ±ez de Balboa, Spanish explorer, for whom are named: Balboa (currency), official currency of Panama Balboa, a port city in Panama Balboa, California, a subsection of Newport Beach, California, and also called the Balboa... A truss arch bridge combines elements of a truss and an arch. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... A canal tug making its way down to the Caribbean end of the canal waits to be joined by a ship in the uppermost chamber of the Gatun Locks. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Panamas Centennial Bridge (Puente Centenario) is a major bridge crossing the Panama Canal, and hence connecting North and South America. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Description

The Bridge of the Americas crosses the Pacific approach to the Panama Canal at Balboa, Panama, near Panama City. It was built between 1959 and 1962 by the United States at a cost of 20 million dollars. For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... A canal tug making its way down to the Caribbean end of the canal waits to be joined by a ship in the uppermost chamber of the Gatun Locks. ... The word balboa, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language: Vasco NÃºÃ±ez de Balboa, Spanish explorer, for whom are named: Balboa (currency), official currency of Panama Balboa, a port city in Panama Balboa, California, a subsection of Newport Beach, California, and also called the Balboa... Panama City (Spanish: Ciudad de PanamÃ¡), population 708,738, is the capital of Panama, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, at 8Â°58â€²N 79Â°32â€²W. Panama City is the political, administrative and cultural center of the country. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... One million (1000000), one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999999 and preceding 1000001. ...

The bridge is a truss arch design, with a length of 1,654 m (5,425 ft) in 14 spans, abutment to abutment; the main span measures 344 m (1,128 ft). The highest point of the bridge is 117 m (384 ft) above mean sea level; the clearance under the main span is 61.3 m (201 ft) at high tide. There are wide access ramps at each end, and a pedestrian walkway on each side. A truss arch bridge combines elements of a truss and an arch. ...

From its completion in 1962 until the opening of the Centennial Bridge in 2004, the Bridge of the Americas was a key part of the Pan-American Highway; as the only permanent crossing over the Panama Canal it was the only permanent link between North and South America since the opening of the canal in 1914. (A small swinging road bridge is built into the lock structure at Gatún, and a swinging road/rail bridge crossing the canal was built at Miraflores in 1942; but these bridges are only usable when the lock gates are closed, and have very limited capacity.) 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Panamas Centennial Bridge (Puente Centenario) is a major bridge crossing the Panama Canal, and hence connecting North and South America. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana in Spanish; Estrada Panamericana in Portuguese; Autoroute Panaméricaine in French) is a network of roads, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica (1997) nearly 30,000 miles (48,000 km) in total length, linking (nearly) the mainland nations of the Americas in a unified... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... This article is about the year. ...

The bridge is an impressive sight, and a good view can be obtained from the Balboa Yacht Club, where many small boats tie up before or after transiting the canal. Throughout the day and night numerous vessels pass under the bridge, either entering or departing the Panama Canal.

History

The need for a bridge

From the beginning of the French project to construct a canal, it was recognised that the cities of Colon and Panamá would be split from the rest of the republic by the new canal. This was an issue even during construction, when barges were used to ferry construction workers across the canal. Colon has several meanings: colon (anatomy) colon (punctuation) colon (rhetoric) See also Colón This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

After the canal opened, the increasing number of cars, and the constructon of a new road leading to Chiriquí, in the west of Panama, increased the need for some kind of crossing. The Panama Canal Mechanical Division addressed this in August 1931, with the commissioning of two new ferries, the Presidente Amador and President Washington. This service was expanded in August 1940, with additional barges mainly serving the military. ChiriquÃ is a province of Panama. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On June 3, 1942, a road/rail swing bridge was inaugurated at the Miraflores locks; although only usable when no ships were passing, this provided some relief for traffic wishing to cross the canal. Still, it was clear that a more substantial solution would be required. To meet the growing needs of vehicle traffic, another ferry, Presidente Porras, was added in November 1942. June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ...

The bridge project

The idea of a permanent bridge over the canal had been proposed as a major priority as early as 1923. Subsequent administrations of Panama pressed this issue with the United States, which controlled the Canal Zone; and in 1955, the Remón-Eisenhower treaty commited the United States to building a bridge. Image File history File links BridgeConFerry. ... Image File history File links BridgeConFerry. ...

A contract of $20,000,000 was awarded to John F. Beasly & Company, and the project was initiated in a ceremony which took place on December 23, 1958, in the presence of United States Ambassador Mr. Julian Harrington, and Panamanian President Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro. Construction began on October 12, 1959, and took nearly two and one half years to complete. December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro was President of Panama from October 1, 1956 to October 1, 1960. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The inauguration of the bridge took place on October 12, 1962, with great ceremony. The day began with a concert by the bands of the U.S. Army and Air Force, and the Panama National Guard; this was followed by speeches, prayers, music, and the national anthems of both nations. The ribbon was cut by Maurice H. Thatcher, after which those present were allowed to walk across the bridge. The ceremony was given full nationwide coverage on radio and television; significant precautions were taken to manage the large crowds of people present. October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Maurice Hudson Thatcher (August 15, 1870 - January 6, 1973) was a U.S. Congressman. ...

Post-construction

When opened, the bridge was an important part of the Pan-American Highway, and carried around 9,500 vehicles per day; however, this expanded over time, and by 2004 the bridge was carrying 35,000 vehicles per day. The bridge therefore became a significant bottleneck on the highway, which led to the construction of the Centennial Bridge, which now carries the Pan-American Highway. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x406, 228 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x406, 228 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana in Spanish; Estrada Panamericana in Portuguese; Autoroute Panaméricaine in French) is a network of roads, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica (1997) nearly 30,000 miles (48,000 km) in total length, linking (nearly) the mainland nations of the Americas in a unified... Panamas Centennial Bridge (Puente Centenario) is a major bridge crossing the Panama Canal, and hence connecting North and South America. ...

The name

The bridge was originally referred to (particularly by the Americans) as the Thatcher Ferry Bridge, after the original ferry which crossed the canal at about the same point. The ferry was, in turn, named after Mr. Maurice H. Thatcher, a former member of the canal commission, who introduced the legislation which created the ferry. Thatcher cut the tape at the inauguration of the bridge. Maurice Hudson Thatcher (August 15, 1870 - January 6, 1973) was a U.S. Congressman. ...

The name was unpopular with the government of Panama, however, which preferred the name "Bridge of the Americas"; this was made official by a resolution of the National Assembly on October 2, 1962, ten days before the inauguration. The resolution read as follows: October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

It interesting to note that during the inauguration ceremony, the Under Secretary of State, George W. Bell, said in his speech: "we can look today to this bridge as a new and bright step toward the realization of that dream of a Pan-American Highway, which is now almost a reality. The grand bridge we inaugurate today — truly a bridge of the Americas — completes the last stage of the highway from the United States to Panama".

Contents