Boston and Cambridge built the Harvard Bridge jointly between 1887 and 1891, after years of disagreement. Ave." Bridge. It is a steel haunched girder bridge carrying Massachusetts Avenue (Route 2A) over the Charles River, linking Back Bay, Boston with Cambridge.
At 2,164.8 feet (387.72 sm; 659.82 m) it is the longest bridge over the Charles River. After years of disagreement between the cities, the bridge was built jointly by Boston and Cambridge between 1887 and 1891. It is named for John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University.
Originally equipped with a central swing span, the bridge was revised several times until its superstructure was completely replaced in the late 1980s because of unacceptable vibration and the collapse of a similar bridge in Connecticut. The idea for a crossing was authorized by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1874, and follow-up legislation in 1882 fixed its location. The plans called for a draw with an opening of at least 38 feet (12 m; 6.8 sm), and Boston interests opposed the bridge.
Today you can still see the bridge's idiosyncrasy: it is marked off in the smoot, a local unit of length. At 2,164.8 feet this is the longest bridge over the Charles River, marked off end to end in the smoot.