Lighthouse - www.WhalingCity.net www.WhalingCity.net
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Sperm Whale -  WWW.WhalingCity.Net -  © Roger Chartier
Home Page
Pictures and History
Places and Their History
Theaters and Entertainment
People Pics and Biographies
Whaling Images and History
Mayors List
City Parks
New Bedford Maps
New Bedford Videos
New Bedford Books, Etc.
Festivals and Fairs
Function Halls - Restaurants
Local Links
Things to do
New Bedford City Directories
Lewis temple Toggle Iron - www.WhalingCity.net
Chronological History
Local History - 1600's to 1699
Local History 1700 - 1749
Local History 1750 - 1777
Local Revolutionary War 1778
Local History 1779 - 1799
Local History 1800 - 1819
Local History 1820 - 1829
Local History 1830 - 1839
Local History 1840 - 1849
Local History 1850 - 1858
Local History 1859 Fires!
Local History 1860 - 1869
Local History 1870 - 1879
Local History 1880 - 1889
Local History 1890 - 1899
Local History 1900's
Local History 1900 - 1909
Local History 1910 - 1919
Local History 1920 - 1929
Local History 1930 - 1939
Local History 1940 - 1949
Local History 1950 - 1959
Local History 1960 - 1969
Local History 1970 - 1979
Local History 1980 - 1989
Local History 1990 - 1999
Local History 2000 - 2009
Local History 2010
Local History 2011
Contact webmaster
This site - work in progress.

If you have any public domain photographs of historical interest to donate, whether scanned or printed please contact the webmaster, Roger Chartier and your submission will be credited if it is displayed on this site.

By Roger Chartier

 

New Bedford Hurricane Barrier Construction

Began November 17, 1962 finished May 21, 1966
6 photographs - during and after

Below are two pictures of the cofferdam construction from the air.
The size of the cars and trucks leave us with an impression of the scale of the project.

The cofferdam kept out the water and created a hole below sea level allowing the workers to begin building the foundation and access tunnel that runs beneath the barrier.
(Click the pictures for larger images)

The construction was begun on November 21, 1962 and finished on May 21, 1966. Total cost was over $18 million, and is 3.5 miles long with the 150 foot wide gates at a mid-point in the harbor.
The structure stands 26 feet above mean high tide, and can be seen from outer space. It's the largest such structure on the east coast of the USA. The Army Corps of Engineers manages, and operates the main gates.

In case of a storm or excessive high tide, it takes12 minutes to close the main gates that weigh 40.5 tons each.

There is also a street gate and pumping station on East Rodney French Blvd just north of Billy Woods Wharf and Davy's Locker that is operated by the city of New Bedford.

The cut off point leaves the businesses and homes south of the barrier in harms way from storms.


This picture (below) shows the mechanism of the 150 foot wide gates being installed.
Below see 4 more 2010 aerial views - Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Below is the entire barrier in it's two sections
Tthe New Bedford harbor section and the Clark's Cove section


Below is a closer view of the New Bedford Harbor section of the barrier with the gates open.
Below is an aerial view of the street barrier gate that is controlled by the City of New Bedford.
The property to the south is unprotected.
This is the section of the New Bedford hurricane barrier at the northernmost part of Clark's Cove.
Until the late 1800's a stream emptied into this cove, and since then there has been a lot of landfill as can be seen from older maps of the area.
 
 
 

 


www.sailorsongs.com www.ourwholeworld.com www.Taxman123.com www.RC123.com
www.rogerchartier.com www.moneytopaythebills.com www.menujoy.com