The world's longest bridge is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. }}. bridge's east The Harvard Bridge is marked off in an idiosyncratic unit of measure, the smoot. Smoot lay down on the bridge, his fraternity brothers marked his head and feet, then he moved down one length and the process was repeated until the entire length of the bridge had been measured. Every year since 1958, the Smoot marks have been repainted by LCA brothers, and when the Harvard Bridge was rebuilt in the late 1980s, the contractor scored the sidewalk every Smoot length, rather . In the fall of 2014, the Charles River Conservancy announced that an anonymous donor would fund an upgrade of the street lights for both the roadway and both sidewalks on the bridge. [22], Pier 12 was exhibiting inappropriate movement and was scheduled for reinforcement. There were also two {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} sidewalks. [47] The fraternal length of the bridge is 364.4 Smoots, plus or minus one ear. + $0.93 shipping. An interesting aspect of the Smoot Pledge is that a Smoot has become an obscure unit of measure. 34748. Local installation, service and support to build and operate your business. 93+ Harvard Bridge spans the Charles River linking Boston and Cambridge. The resulting new bridge would be of known materials and quality, such as ductile structural steel rather than brittle wrought iron, and rated at AASHO HS-20. The only mill in the state that features a covered bridge. After years of infighting between the cities of Boston and Cambridge, the bridge was built jointly by the two cities between 1887 and 1891. [8][9], In 1874 the Massachusetts Legislature authorized construction of a bridge between Boston and Cambridge,[10] and in 1882 follow-up legislation set out its location.[11]. New observations show the deepest parts of the quasar's plasma jet in a project led by MIT Haystack Observatory. A few days later, all trucks and buses were banned from the bridge. The smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches -- 1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". MIT students continue the legacy of beloved professor "Doc" Edgerton through learning by doing. A younger Ollie was chosen by Lambda Chi Alpha to become a measurement painted on Harvard Bridge decades ago. [37], Ramp "B", from southbound (Boston bound) bridge lanes to eastbound Storrow Drive, caused traffic to merge onto Storrow Drive from the left (high speed) lanes using a short acceleration lane, causing safety issues. [8], The bridge was formerly referred to as the "Xylophone Bridge" because of the sound its wooden decking made when traffic traveled over it. The bridge is officially named after John Harvard, and is locally referred to as the Mass Ave Bridge. During the reconstruction in the 1980s, the smoot markings were repainted on the new deck, and the sidewalks were divided into smoot-length slabs rather than the standard six feet. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, Despite Flu Outbreaks, CBP Says It Will Not Vaccinate Migrants In Its Care, Legal Grey Area Means 3D Gun Business Continues Despite Founders Criminal Record. Native Texan Oliver Smoot gave his name to a whimsical unit of measure. Which of the following is the longest bridge? Before the final study was complete, the recommendation was to place a load limit of 8 short tons (7.3t) per axle and a total of 15 short tons (14t) per vehicle, or to restrict trucks to the interior lanes, where the bridge was stronger. The qualifier "plus or minus" was originally intended to express measurement uncertainty, but over the years the words "or minus" have gone missing in many citations . It is the longest bridge over the Charles River at {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.[1]. [54], During the major reconstruction in the 1980s, the new sidewalks were divided into smoot-length slabs rather than the standard six feet, and the smoot markings were painted on the new deck. Oliver would lie down on the bridge and the fraternity brothers would make a mark. Cost was estimated to be US$20M[40] (US$49,000,000 with inflation[13]). We are here to help! A bridge of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}[1][39] corresponds to 387.7 smoots one ear. He was born in Bexar County, Texas, and there was nothing in his formative years to predict the events that would push him into international prominence. Anyone trekking across the bridge can relive Smoots journey; the measurements have endured as permanent markings, and the Cambridge Police often use the marks to report accident locations on the bridge. Please confirm status on the venue website before making any plans. Ollie Smoot, now retired, came onto Boston Decoded to explain the origin of the smoot, along with some little-known secrets behind this made-up measurement. Smoot would go on to become the president of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), as well as having an informal unit of measurement named for him. Now the "smoot" is an official measurement and a beloved part of the university's history. : r/todayilearned TIL: There is an unit of measurement known as 'smoot' (5 feet 7 inches or 1.708meters) : r/todayilearned He was in charge of weights and measures. Oliver Ollie Smoot didnt expect to become a lasting legend when he came to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but that all changed the night his fraternity used his body to measure a bridge . The Harvard Bridge itself is mercifully undistinctive, lying low over the river and not getting in the way of beautiful, panoramic views of the Boston skyline, Esplanade, and MIT campus. The width of the bridge was 69feet 4inches (21.13m; 12.42sm) except near and on the draw. The official length of the Harvard Bridge is 364.4 Smoots plus one ear. The width of the bridge was {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} except near and on the draw. The residents of the Back Bay, South End, Roxbury, and other southern sections of Boston are now connected directly, by way of West Chester park and the bridge, with Cambridge, Belmont, Arlington, and adjacent towns; and this thoroughfare in Boston, it is believed, will ultimately be the central one of the city. We all get tunnel vision. A smoot is the. Last edited on 26 November 2022, at 21:44, Department of Conservation and Recreation, International Organization for Standardization, List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Massachusetts, "Place Name: Boston, Massachusetts; NBI Structure Number: 417208078401120; Facility Carried: Route 2A; Feature Intersected: Charles River", "Mass. This is now called Massachusetts Avenue on both sides of the river. Many at MIT, feeling that the bridge was poorly designed, did not want it name for MIT. + $1.85 shipping. In 2008, on the 50th anniversary of the frat pledge, a plaque was again placed on the Cambridge side of the bridge to immortalize the event. 364.4 Smoots equals about 2035 feet in length. Further legislation in 1885 changed the draw to a clear opening of at least 36 feet (11m; 6.4sm) and no more, until the other bridges below the proposed location were required to have a larger opening. 478. [27], When the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) took control of the bridge in 1924, they rebuilt much of the bridge superstructure. Its true try it. What Type Of Location Are You Collecting? [6], The bridge opened on September 1, 1891. The superstructure was originally twenty-three cantilevered fixed spans and suspended spans, of plate girders with one swing span. [16], After the failure of the Mianus River Bridge at Greenwich, Connecticut in 1983, the Harvard Bridge was shut down and inspected because it contained similar elements, specifically the suspended spans. $5.49. Smoot is unit of length named after Oliver R. Smoot, class of 1962 at MIT. The answer to the question in the title is that there's 945.671642 smoots in a mile. Are you a new investor? The measurement has long been a calculation used by Google, and in 2011, the word Smoot was even added to theAmerican Heritage Dictionary. Definition: Astronomical unit The astronomical unit (AU or au or a.u. Harvard Bridge . [7], Originally, the bridge was built across the Charles River connecting West Chester Park, in Boston, with Front Street, in Cambridge. . Ave. Bridge", "Keyser describes his top five hacks - MIT News Office", "The Measure of This Man Is in the Smoot", Harvard Bridge, Spanning Charles River at Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Suffolk County, MA, United States Department of Transportation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harvard_Bridge&oldid=1124004482, 69.3ft (12.42sm; 21.13m) (total width), This page was last edited on 26 November 2022, at 21:44. Marketing consultation, design and campaign management to attract, upsell and retain customers onsite and online. Pedestrians crossing the bridge will still see smoot markers painted along the sidewalk as they cross the Charles River. The Harvard Bridge is measured, locally, in smoots. Each year members of the fraternity re-painted the hash marks, until Smoots became folklore on both sides of the Charles River. October 21, 2014, 12:22 a.m. An architectural rendering depicts the Harvard Bridge as it will appear after new lighting, paid for by an . [30] The recommendation was to replace the superstructure with one weighing approximately the same in order to reuse the piers, which were in good condition.[31]. }}Template:Mdashboriginally surreptitiously and later openly. Advertizing In an MIT News article commemorating the Smoots 50thanniversary, Oliver Smoot recounted the unplanned effort needed to calculate the new measurements. A Rice Professor Made It His Mission To Modernize The Phonetic Alphabet For Braille Readers, Groundbreaking Dallas Museum Exhibit Pushes The Boundaries Of Communication. [21], The historic value of the bridge was considered significant, so the plan was to make the replacement superstructure appear similar, with similar railing and lighting. The MDC requested elimination of this ramp. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} There was still no substantive progress until 1887, when Cambridge petitioned the Legislature to compel Boston to proceed; the resulting act required each city pay half the cost, and allowed Boston to raise up to $250,000 (US$Template:Inflation with inflationTemplate:Inflation-fn) for this purpose, in excess of its debt limit. [21] The Boston abutment rests on vertical piles, while the Cambridge end is directly on gravel. |CitationClass=web The action taken based on this study was to establish load restrictions on the bridge, 15 short tons (14t) in the outer lanes, 25 short tons (23t) on the inner lanes. Trusted leadership from the worlds largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment. The Psychology Behind Why Identical Twins Inspire Fascinationand Fear, From Space, Mont Saint-Michel Stars in a Wild Impressionist Painting, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Bridge. The draw was elevated slightly and the trolley rails were replaced as well. The crowning compliment to the glory of the smoot as a measurement was when the fun-loving geeks at Google, no doubt many from MIT, decided to include the unit of measure in Google conversions. In addition, we can find out average ages, and we can also measure a sites dimensions to within a foot or two of actuality.Believe it or not, researching sites all day and pouring over demographic studies is not as glamorous as it may seem from the outside. Bob Fox has 30 years industry experience and is an instructor at CarWash College. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} The Boston abutment rests on vertical piles, while the Cambridge end is directly on gravel. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}}, The subsurface conditions at the bridge location are extreme. on the Boston side, and the MIT students stopped measuring at this ramp. Mass Ave at Storrow Drive, Boston, MA 02115. [55] Officials' original determination to omit the smoot markings from the reconstructed bridge, and to scrupulously prevent the fraternity from repainting them, evaporated when it was realized that police routinely used the smoot marks as reference points in accident reports.[54]. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}}, The bridge as built was composed of fixed and suspended spans roughly {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long and piers {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} apart, center to center. And, in case you were wondering, Texas has a total area of over 240 trillion square smoots. The following description is taken from The Journal of the Institute for Hacks, Tomfoolery, and Pranks at MIT. The Harvard Bridge (also known locally as the MIT Bridge, the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge, and the 'Mass. The Harvard Bridge (also known locally as the MIT Bridge, . The answer is 945.67164179104. . Bike lanes on Mass. Image shows how the replacement superstructure was built, with six longitudinal girders, different bracing, etc. Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, 2215. Took five hours because the police dispersed them and they had to sneak back later. Every year the fraternity of Lambda Chi Alpha paint the smoots on the bridge, you can see them . In recent years, a plaque and colorful smoot markers have been added. All Rights Reserved | For Sales & Customer Service call 1-800-327-8723. [38], The historic value of the bridge was considered significant, so the plan was to make the replacement superstructure appear similar, with similar railing and lighting. 1 photo. Biannually, the pledge class of Lambda Chi Alpha repaints the markings with a new color. View a selection of full-serve, flex-serve, express-exterior, and Xtreme Xpress mini tunnel car wash site layouts to help you plan your next car wash project. [35] The marks are repainted twice each year by members of the fraternity[3][36]{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Make them look at things in a different way. From a depth of approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} below existing ground, is a very dense till composed of gravel and boulders with a silt-clay matrix. After a few minutes of Google searching, they found what I said to be true, and one even offered an apology, although begrudgingly.How does this all relate back to running your business?Its about challenging your people. When you open the ruler, it generally defaults to feet as the unit of measure. A bridge of 2,164.8 feet (659.82m)[1][56] corresponds to 387.7 smoots one ear. Replacement, p.11. As originally built, the total length between centers of bearings on abutments was 2,164feet 9inches (659.82m; 387.72sm) with a draw 48feet 4inches (14.73m; 8.66sm) wide between centers. This website is managed by the MIT News Office, part of the MIT Office of Communications. The general plans were approved on July 14, 1887. How Many Smoots Are In The Smoot Bridge. You can even determine how far you boot scooted to George Strait at the dance hall last night. A Problem Occurred While Sending The Email, Please Try Again Later. Harvard Bridge, With panoramic views of the Boston skyline and Cambridge on either side, the Harvard Bridge allows you to take it all in, with the Charles River flowing beneath, as you cross from . Its wonderful to see. In the fall of 2014, the Charles River Conservancy announced that an anonymous donor would fund an upgrade of the street lights for both the roadway and both sidewalks on the bridge. [1][22] A possible cause is that in 1958, there were ramps to Storrow Drive on both sides of the bridge, which interrupted the sidewalk earlier than it extends today. While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of our listings, some venues may be currently temporarily closed without notice. 10360. The trolley car poles were reused for street lights. Smoots. The Legislature provided for a bridge commission, to consist of the mayors of Boston and Cambridge plus a third commissioner to be appointed by the mayors. [39], Pier 12 was exhibiting inappropriate movement and was scheduled for reinforcement. Ave, BU Bridge bike lanes completed", "Commonwealth Begins Work on Harvard Bridge", "AROUND THE NATION; Boston's Harvard Bridge Closed to Heavy Trucks", "Smoot lighting: $2.5 million gift will brighten Mass. This nearly endless university hallway is home to a unique sunset known as "MIThenge.". [3] The fifteen expansion dams were replaced or repaired in 1969. [33], In 1986, a report was published containing the plan to replace the superstructure on the existing supports. Template:- }} Note: this is a formatted scrape of the 2009 official website, which can be found here for Massachusetts: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation For those uninitiated to MIT, the Smoot was concocted in October 1958 after seven MIT students calibrated the Harvard (Mass. "The roadway lights will be set every 30 Smoots. [44][45][46] The light posts will be located 30 smoots (167.5ft; 51.05m) apart. It is the longest bridge over the Charles River at 2,164.8 feet (387.72sm; 659.82m).[1]. This bridge across the Charles River from Boston to Cambridge is notorious not for how it was constructed or where it connects, but how it was measured by an MIT fraternity for a hazing ritual. Superstructure is in much better shape only 20 years after completion, than the 1985 superstructure was roughly 40 years after its most recent major work. This is now called Massachusetts Avenue on both sides of the river. Special Courts Are Agreeing. However, if you click on the drop down box, youll see several more options: Centimeters Meters Kilometers Inches Feet Yards Miles Nautical Miles Smoots Degrees ArcsecondsIm sure all of us are somewhat familiar with most of these units, and when I say most, I mean all with the exception for Arcseconds, and Smoots. I know I didnt know what a Smoot was until one fateful day when I decided it was time to broaden my horizons and do some research.It seems that as part of a fraternity prank at MIT in 1958, the members of Lambda Chi Alpha measured the length of the Harvard Bridge by using their fraternity pledge named Oliver Smoot. Phase 1 finished in 1987, and Phase 2 in 1990. In 2011 smoot was one of 10,000 words added to the American Heritage dictionary.Fascinating stuff right?No, probably not, but it was sure fun watching the looks on my young colleagues' faces when I asked them how many smoots it was from the site they were looking at to an existing wash in the same town! Crossing pedestrians are informed by length markers painted at 10-smoot intervals that the bridge is 364.4 smoots long, "plus one ear". {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} The engineers were William Jackson (Boston City Engineer), John E. Cheney (assistant Boston City Engineer), Samuel E. Tinkham (assistant engineer), and Nathan S. Brock (assistant engineer at bridge). In 1958, members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at MIT measured the bridge's eastern sidewalk by using that year's shortest pledge, Oliver SmootTemplate:Mdashbnominally, {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} tallTemplate:Mdashbas a measuring stick. By adamg - 10/12/16 - 10:00 am. Over this are thin layers of sand, gravel, and fill. No purchase necessary. The wooden pier was heavily modified with concrete and stone to make it resemble the other piers, increasing the number of stone piers from 23 to 24. Much of Boston is underlain with clay, but the situation at the bridge is exacerbated by a fault which roughly follows the path of the Charles River itself. Not only can we pull traffic counts from right in front of most locations, but we can also find out how much money folks make in the areas surrounding a site. Answer (1 of 2): Harvard College and MIT are both across the river in Cambridge, Massachusetts. By adamg - 10/24/22 - 10:51 am. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. [24], Bridge viewed from the upstream Cambridge side in 1985. [1]{{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} A possible cause is that in 1958, there were ramps to Storrow Drive on both sides of the bridge, which interrupted the sidewalk earlier than it extends today. [25], A marker near the southeast end of the bridge memorializes one of Harry Houdini's "well known escapes", during which he jumped from the bridge on May 1, 1908. Typical Rob. [19] Structural modifications included an upgrade from four longitudinal girders to six of the same shape and replacement of a stairway with a handicapped pedestrian ramp on the Boston end of the bridge. Starting at the Boston end on the eastern sidewalk, they laid him down and marked off each length, painting indicators for every 10 smoots. The final measured figure was 364.4 smoots plus one ear. [14] Detailed engineering calculations were included. . Charles River: Smoots - See 801 traveler reviews, 413 candid photos, and great deals for Cambridge, MA, at Tripadvisor. In 1983, a plaque was placed on the Cambridge side of the bridge commemorating the event, but was The bridge, which opened in June 2011, spans 102.4 miles (165 kilometers). today. used for measuring the Harvard Bridge. . They replaced the wooden stringers with steel "I" beams, topped wooden deck elements with concrete and brick, and replaced the street car rails. Quincy, MA. It measures 128 feet wide and is made of a network of origami-like . From a practical perspective, some joggers use the Smoot-marks to measure their progress as they cross the bridge. [40], The work would be done in two phases. At this time, all bearings were replaced, and the trolley car tracks were removed, as were granite blocks. $8.87. [23] The span lengths alternated between 75 and 105 feet (23 and 32m; 13.4 and 18.8sm). They told me I was crazy and that I had made up the story of Oliver Smoot because no such unit of measure existed.I told them to do their research and get back to me with their findings. This decking was replaced in 1949 with 3-inch (76mm; 0.045sm) concrete-filled "I-beam lok" grating topped with a 2.25-inch (57mm; 0.0336sm) thick bituminous wearing surface. It is also the world's widest bridge. The Harvard Bridge is marked off in an idiosyncratic unit of measure, the smoot. (Other sources give the date as April 30, 1908. The swing span was converted into two {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} fixed spans the same width as the rest of the bridge. Smoot is unit of length named after Oliver R. Smoot, class of 1962 at MIT. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation [37], During the major reconstruction in the 1980s, the new sidewalks were divided into smoot-length slabs rather than the standard six feet, and the smoot markings were painted on the new deck. They decided to immortalize this new unit of measure by calling it a smoot, after Oliver's last name. With him there, we had no choice but to do the actual measurements. Read the interesting tale behind the smoots pasted all over, on the web. Compared to overall bridge traffic of 30,000 vehicles per day, traffic on ramp B was found to be low, approximately 1,500 vehicles per day with a peak of 120 vehicles per hour. Smoots Bridge/MIT Bridge is a nickname for the Harvard Bridge, which leads to MIT in Cambridge. Its 5,640,000,000 smoots from Texas to the Moon. The smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches -- 1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". {{#invoke:Error|error|Parameter error in {{, Department of Conservation and Recreation, International Organization for Standardization, List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Massachusetts, https://linuxportland.com/index.php?title=Harvard_Bridge&oldid=68535, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with invalid date parameter in template, Pages using reflist with unknown parameters, Commons category link is on Wikidata using P373, Historic American Engineering Record in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology student life, Buildings and structures in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Transportation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bridges in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, (Nationalbridges.com): {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation, (Replacement): {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation. Boston's Harvard Bridge at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is covered in "smoots." Learn about the origin of this real measurement from Ollie Smoot. This bridge also has many serious and comical art strewn all over it. [33], After the failure of the Mianus River Bridge at Greenwich, Connecticut in 1983, the Harvard Bridge was shut down and inspected because it contained similar elements, specifically the suspended spans. The story of these markings as told by Oliver Reed Smoot, Jr., '62: As all who walked the bridge in those days will remember, it was difficult, especially in the rain, sleet, snow, and fog of which Boston gets its share, to know how much further you had to go to get to the Institute. Smoots are listed with Nybbles and Googles from this one prank back in 1958. As originally built, the total length between centers of bearings on abutments was {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} with a draw {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} wide between centers. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} The span lengths alternated between {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[not in citation given] |CitationClass=book In October 1958, Oliver Smoot, in a pledge to the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at MIT, was measured head over feet from one end of the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge to the other. Replacement, p.11. [3] It was a double-cantilevered, electrically-driven structure also carrying a bridge caretaker's house. Template:Wide image, {{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Reflist with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | colwidth | group | liststyle | refs }}, |CitationClass=web With Smoot design, Harvard Bridge is the latest to shine. ramp for safety reasons also). Read more about this topic: Harvard Bridge, I was at work that morning. While the Harvard Bridge was closed in 1949 for renovations, the "Harvard Bridge Closed" sign was replaced by Tech students with a sign saying, "Technology Bridge Closed." You might want to sit down for the origin of the name Smoot because it is a bit shocking. How Did a World War II Boat End Up at the Bottom of a California Lake? [2] In 2011 (113 years later), the City of Boston finally connected these lanes to its own bike lanes. Shake things up! [2], The bridge opened on September 1, 1891. The Cambridge police use the smoot marks as a coordinate system when reporting accidents on the bridge. In 1987 the Mass. [37], The nominal length of 364.4 smoots (from two designated points at the bridge's ends) corresponds to about 2030 feet or 620 m, somewhat less than the bridge's published length of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Alternatives considered were very similar to the 1972 report, and were similarly decided. The swing span was converted into two 75-foot (23m; 13.4sm) fixed spans the same width as the rest of the bridge. Custom branded signage and lighting to create a value proposition and onsite experience that dominates. [6] In 2011 (113 years later), the City of Boston finally connected these lanes to its own bike lanes. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Image shows how the replacement superstructure was built, with six longitudinal girders, different bracing, etc. {{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} The original cost of construction was $511,000,{{#invoke:Footnotes|sfn}} $Template:Inflation in current dollars. Work that into a conversation that everyone can work in harmony for a common cause when they want to. Luckily for the five of us, we were cold sober; in any case, when an MDC [Metropolitan District Commission] black van appeared at about the 300 mark, we cut fo the dark recesses of the Great Court and waited for them to leave. It will become a really beautiful bridge," said Renata von Tscharner, founder and president of the Charles River Conservancy.[48][49]. Above that to approximately 30 feet (9m; 5sm) below the surface is Boston blue clay (BBC). Even when the Continental Construction Company reconcreted the sidewalk in 1987, they made the slabs in smoot lengths to commemorate local lore. The bridge's length was measured to be 364.4 smoots (2,035 ft; 620.1 m) "+/ 1 ar" with the "+/" showing measurement uncertainty and spelled with an epsilon to further indicate possible error in the measurement. Distances on the bridge are indicated with a colored paint mark every Smoot and a number every ten Smoots. The world's longest bridge is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. [2] Structural steel hangers replaced wrought iron. Ave.' Bridge) is a steel haunched girder bridge carrying Massachusetts Avenue (Route 2A ) over the Charles River and connecting Back Bay, Boston with Cambridge, Massachusetts. )[9], The bridge was declared unsafe in 1909, requiring all of the iron and steel to be replaced. Note the use of the HAER document throughout this article. [3], The substructure originally consisted of two masonry abutments and twenty-three masonry piers, as well as one pile foundation with a fender pier for the draw span. A 25-short-ton (23t) limit was imposed. Image shows how the bridge was originally built, and later modified, but before the superstructure was replaced. Articles and content to help you build, buy, or grow your car wash business, along with helpful tips to improve wash quality, improve operations, get more customers, get more out of labor, and manage risk at your car wash business. And so the "smoot" was born. The unit of one Smoot is based . Butch would have had to worry about swimming off the Harvard Bridge, given that the fall would be akin to a competitive high dive. The bridge is named for the Reverend John Harvard, for whom Harvard University is also named, rather than for the university itself. Sorry, Failed To Unsubscribe From The Newsletter. For those uninitiated to MIT, the Smoot was concocted in October 1958 after a Lambda Chi Alpha headmaster sent seven students to calibrate the Harvard (Mass. Vincent L. Elite 2022. Distances on the bridge are indicated with a colored paint mark every Smoot and a number every ten Smoots. The general plans were approved on July 14, 1887. [8][9] Years after this stunt, Smoot became president of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and later president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Oliver Reed Smoot was 5 feet 7 inches in 1958, thus making the Harvard Bridge just under 0.4 mile long (+/- 1 ear, which is on average 6.30 cm). The police have come to accept the Smoot marks. Crossing pedestrians are informed by length markers painted at 10-smoot intervals that the bridge is 364.4 smoots long, "plus one ear". It is approximately equal to the mean distance between the Earth and Sun. Thus, the bridge was 364.4 smoots and an ear long. Just before he reached it, a convertible containing ten members of The Tech staff, a brass band, and two clowns pulled in front of the governor's limousine and started across the bridge. Ave.) Bridge using 5'7 freshman Oliver Smoot '62. Markers painted at 10-smoot (55.83 ft; 17.02 m) intervals give the bridge's length 364.4 smoots long, "plus one ear". Occasionally, ones mind tends to wander. The bridge was to have a draw with an opening of at least 38 feet (12m; 6.8sm). This doesn't bother the locals because they know traffic laws are adv. The reasoning was that the cost of a new structure could be predicted much more easily than the cost of repairing and reinforcing the existing bridge. Try something new! The longer spans were cantilevered, while the shorter spans were suspended between the cantilevers. After years of disagreement between the cities of Boston and Cambridge, the bridge was built jointly by the two cities between 1887 and 1891. Many may not know that a smoot is 5 feet and 7 inches (plus an ear) - the exact height of Ollies body. [31] Detailed engineering calculations were included. Phase 1 would reinforce the downstream side of the bridge to allow MBTA bus traffic, and was expected to take 5 months. Most of this effort would be spent on the underside of the bridge and would not affect existing traffic. Smoot mark 210, east side of the bridge {{#invoke:main|main}} The Harvard Bridge is marked off in an idiosyncratic unit of measure, the smoot. Oliver graduated MIT in 1962 and later became chairman of the American Standards . The design was selected after a competition won by Miguel Rosales of Rosales + Partners. The superstructure was originally twenty-three cantilevered fixed spans and suspended spans, of plate girders with one swing span. }}, {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation The police stopped the convertible, but the pranksters' car was the second to cross the newly rebuilt bridge. The Boston architecture firm Rosales + Partners will oversee the design, led by Miguel Rosales SM 87, the firms president and principal designer. Every ten smoots they calibrated the bridge, painting marks. By W.F. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Comprehensive hands-on training to plan, manage, maintain and grow your business. 2 comments; Reply; Ben Stiller stops traffic. Ave. bridge - Metro - The Boston Globe", "$2.5 million gift will shed light on the Harvard Bridge", "Smoot Lighting to Set the Mood on Harvard Bridge", "With Smoot design, Harvard Bridge is the latest to shine", "Smoot legacy continues on Harvard Bridge - The Tech", "An Anonymous Donor Is Bringing Light to the Mass. In 1958, the chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at MIT used the fraternitys shortest pledge, Oliver Smoot at 5 feet 7 inches (1.7018 meters), to measure the span of Harvard Bridge. Construction barrels restricting traffic from the outside lanes, and general wear and tear are visible (click on image to enlarge). 2022 Atlas Obscura. In order to document the pre-existing structure, a Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) would be prepared. This page was last edited on 3 August 2021, at 00:38. [7][11], Heavy traffic at the Mass Ave and Memorial Drive intersection on the Cambridge end of the bridge led to the construction of an underpass in 1931. [2] The original roadway and sidewalk stringers were of wood, with an approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} thick covering of asphalt on the sidewalk and a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} spruce wearing surface on the roadway. [10], When the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) took control of the bridge in 1924, they rebuilt much of the bridge superstructure. If you visit the Harvard Bridge in Boston, you can still see the marks that indicate the number of smoots needed to make the crossing. It was also used as a detention center during World War II. To commemorate local lore have been added sides of the Institute for Hacks,,! Named for the university itself ( US $ 49,000,000 with inflation [ 13 ] ). [ 1.. In 1962 and later modified, but before the superstructure was originally twenty-three fixed... ) bridge using 5 & # x27 ; t bother the locals because they know traffic are! Wear and tear are visible ( click on image to enlarge ). [ ]! 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