Bound to become one of Maine’s most popular attractions, the Penobscot Narrows Observatory is almost certain to be added to list of Maine Historic Sites to visit in the not-too-distant future. The Penobscot Narrows Observatory soars 42 stories above the Penobscot Narrows Bridge with a glass tower that gives you a 360-degree view of the entire region. Views for Camden Hills to Mount Katahdin are possible on a clear day.
Accessed through the Fort Knox State Historic Site, it is the tallest public bridge observatory in the entire world. The bridge spans 2,120 feet over a breath-takingly steep plummeting gorge. The new Penobscot Narrows Bridge replaces the Waldo-Hancock Bridge built in 1931. The bridge features several new state-of-the-art engineering techniques. For example, It is one of only two bridges in the United States that uses a cradle system that carries strands within the stays from the bridge deck and eliminates the need for anchorages into the pylons. The epoxy-coated construction of the steel strands allows them to be inspected, removed, and replaced on an individual basis instead of by groups of cables like most other bridges.
The bridge is also being used to test carbon fiber strands, which are (in theory) stronger and more durable pound for pound than their steel counterparts. The cable-stay system also utilizes pressurized nitrogen gas to help protect the bridge form corrosion. It is these impressive innovations that are sure to be benchmarked by future historians.