The Passagassawakeag River begins inland, flowing 16 miles from Brooks to Belfast Harbor. Its name comes from the Penobscot Nation and means “sturgeon — his place,” or “the place for spearing sturgeon by torchlight.” For centuries, the river has shaped the land around it, both figuratively and literally. For the people of Belfast, it also created an enduring challenge: How to safely cross the river.

In 1801, at a narrow point in the river known as the Narrows, Belfast’s first bridge was built. It was owned by a local corporation, and anyone wishing to cross was required to pay a toll. The bridge provided a vital link between the two sides of town, but it existed in a harsh environment. Ice pressed against its supports in winter, and floodwaters rose against it in spring. The constant movement of the tides weakened it year after year. The bridge was rebuilt several times before finally closing in the 1950s.

The area around this crossing, known as Upper Bridge, developed into an active community. Several wharves lined the riverbank. Mills operated nearby. A small shipbuilding enterprise took advantage of the river’s direct connection to the harbor. The bridge was not just a structure, it was part of a working landscape.

A second crossing followed in 1806, when Belfast constructed its first Lower Bridge. This wooden structure connected the east and west sides of town. It included a draw, allowing schooners to pass upstream to City Point. The river remained a transportation route, and the bridge was designed to accommodate both land and water traffic. 

By the early 20th Century, demands on the bridge had changed. In 1921, the wooden Lower Bridge was replaced by the Waldo County Memorial Bridge. Built of concrete and granite at a cost of $400,000, the new structure was dedicated to the servicemen who lost their lives in World War I. It was wide enough to carry automobiles traveling along the coastal route, reflecting the growing importance of motor vehicle transportation. At the same time, it retained a swing mechanism, allowing barges and larger vessels to continue moving upstream.

As traffic increased, Belfast came to require a crossing that could carry vehicles more efficiently. In 1963, the Veterans Memorial Bridge was completed, stretching high above what many residents would come to call the Footbridge. The view of the waterfront can be appreciated regardless of which direction one is traveling, offering a picturesque view of the downtown area on one side, and the upper river on the other. 

This modern, high-level structure carried U.S. Route 1 over the river and created a bypass around the city. It replaced the 1921 Memorial Bridge as the primary route for vehicle traffic. The older bridge remained in place but took on a new role; renamed the Armistice Bridge, it became a pedestrian walkway connecting downtown Belfast to East Belfast.

Today, these bridges stand as markers of Belfast’s development. Each was built in response to the same river, and each reflects the needs of its time.  The river flows as it always has, while the bridges above reveal how the town adapted over generations. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com