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Stretching a whopping 436m across breathtaking Charles River the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge also enjoys the rare honor of being the world’s widest cable stayed suspension bridge. Having opened its lanes to the public in March, 2003 this breathtaking architectural gem built to replace Charlestown High Bridge is another great reason to explore this renowned corner of Boston, the birthplace of American liberty as we know it. Made of Solid hybrid steel the breathtaking overpass boasts an impressive width of 18 feet with its longest span measuring in at 745 feet. Towering above the surrounding landscapes at an awe-inspiring height of 270 feet the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge also has a 40 foot clearance below for vessels traversing Charles River.

Constructed at a cost of US$100 million the bridge is also considered to be among the most ambitious engineering feats undertaken by the state of Massachusetts in recent memory. Providing 10 lanes for commuters the asymmetrical cable stayed viaduct is also the first of its kind in the country. Built according to the visionary deign of Swiss engineer Christian Menn and the Kiewit Construction Company the project took nearly six years to reach completion after beginning construction in the latter half of 1997.

One of the most unique incidents to take place on the bride was its 2002 pachyderm test where the bridge’s strength and structural integrity were evaluated when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants crossed the overpass. The 14 elephants from the circus who measured in at 112,000 pounds total weight crossed the newly constructed bridge in a display of the bridge’s might in a test that closely resembled the 1884 elephant march across New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. The curios pachyderm test is steeped in the belief that elephants do not venture to tread across poorly supported/constructed structures that cannot withstand their considerable weight.

Another must-see attraction on Zakim Bridge is of course its underbelly public landscape which contains a number of captivating works of art employing punctured stainless steel lighting elements. Ranked among the World Top Ten Bridges by the Travel Channel no trip to Boston would be complete without a stopover at this iconic engineering marvel.

Travellers on the lookout for luxury 5 star hotels in Boston or any of the great United States should rely on the Langham Hotels brand for all their accommodation needs. With a luxury hotels collection spanning the width and breadth of the USA this reputed name in global hospitality pulls out all the stops when it comes to vacationing in elegance anywhere in the world.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
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