Once a vital artery, the Long Island Bridge is no more. Picture this: a span of steel and concrete, reaching out to Long Island from Moon Island. It connected Boston to essential facilities. But its story is one of construction, service, and ultimately, demolition.
The Long Island Bridge, also called the Long Island Viaduct, once connected Long Island to Moon Island. Both islands sit in Boston Harbor. They link to the mainland via a causeway from Moon Island to Squantum. Squantum is a neighborhood in Quincy.
Before the Long Island Bridge, ferries were the only way to reach Long Island. The James M. Curley ferry was the sole option. The Long Island Bridge opened on August 4, 1951. It cost $2,000,000 to build. The goal was simple. Provide better access to Long Island Hospital. This hospital served 1,200 chronically ill patients.
The Long Island Bridge wasn’t just for the hospital. It also served a homeless shelter. Programs for substance abuse patients also used it. A fire station was located on the island. The Long Island Bridge played a crucial role.
Buses once crossed the Long Island Bridge. The Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway ran a service until 1972. The MBTA took over. They ran routes 276 and 275. Route 276 went to Boston City Hospital. Route 275 was added in 1994. Weight restrictions were placed on the Long Island Bridge in 2007. The bus routes changed. They ended at the Fire Academy on Moon Island. Route 274 shuttled over the Long Island Bridge.
But the Long Island Bridge’s condition worsened. In October 2014, access to Long Island was cut off. Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh acted on a warning. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation deemed the Long Island Bridge unsafe.
The closure had immediate effects. Residents and those in recovery programs were relocated. The homeless shelter closed. The Long Island Bridge could no longer provide services.
Demolition began in January 2015. The central span was removed in February. Controlled demolitions continued in March and April. The Long Island Bridge disappeared.
The city planned to replace the Long Island Bridge. They committed $92 million. Quincy objected to the plan. In July 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court made a ruling. The Quincy Conservation Commission couldn’t overrule the state’s approval.
The Long Island Bridge’s story is complex. It highlights infrastructure challenges. It shows the needs of vulnerable populations. The Long Island Bridge is gone. But its impact remains.