If you’ve ever driven toward Rhode Island from the South Coast of Massachusetts, you’ve seen it. Looming. Huge. That massive, rusted-orange-turning-greenish skeleton that dominates the entire skyline of Fall River. We’re talking about the Braga Bridge. Technically, its name is the Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge, named after a local sailor who died at Pearl Harbor, but nobody calls it that. It’s just "the Braga."
It’s one of those structures that defines a city. Honestly, Fall River and that bridge are inseparable. It’s the kind of landmark that makes you feel like you're finally home, or, if you’re stuck in rush hour, makes you feel like you’re trapped in a very high-altitude purgatory. It stretches about 5,780 feet across the Taunton River. That’s over a mile of steel and asphalt suspended in the air.
The Massive Scale of the Braga Bridge
Building this thing wasn't just a casual weekend project for the Commonwealth. It opened back in 1966. Before that, everyone had to crawl across the old Brightman Street Bridge. If you think traffic is bad now, imagine a world where every single car trying to get from Cape Cod to New York had to squeeze through a tiny drawbridge that opened every time a boat wanted to pass. It was a nightmare.
The Braga Bridge fixed that. Sort of.
It stands about 135 feet above the water at its highest point. This was intentional. The Navy needed to get massive ships from the Fall River shipyard and the neighboring Mount Hope Bay out to the open ocean. If you stand at the base of the bridge near Battleship Cove, the scale is genuinely dizzying. You’ve got the USS Massachusetts sitting right there, a literal titan of World War II, and the bridge still manages to make the ship look like a bathtub toy.
The design is a continuous truss. Engineers love this stuff because it's incredibly sturdy. It’s built to handle the brutal New England salt air, though if you look at the paint job, you might wonder if the salt is winning. It’s part of Interstate 195, which basically makes it the main artery for the entire region. Without this bridge, the economy of Fall River and Somerset would probably just stop moving.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Height
There’s this weird urban legend that the Braga Bridge is one of the highest in the world. It’s not. Not even close. But when you’re driving over it and the wind starts whipping your steering wheel, it certainly feels like you’re on top of the world.
The view from the top is actually incredible, though you shouldn't look for too long if you're the one driving. You can see the cooling towers of the old Brayton Point Power Station (well, where they used to be before they were imploded in 2019), the shimmering expanse of Mount Hope Bay, and the dense, triple-decker packed hills of Fall River. It’s a gritty, beautiful, industrial vista that you won't find anywhere else in Massachusetts.
Actually, the wind is a real factor. High-profile vehicles—think tractor-trailers and box trucks—sometimes get restricted when the gusts get too high. It’s a long way down. The bridge spans the Taunton River, connecting Fall River on the east to Somerset on the west.
Why the Color Keeps Changing
Have you noticed it looks a bit... patchy? For decades, it was a very specific shade of green. Then, a massive, multi-year renovation project started. They’ve been blasting off old lead paint and putting on new protective coatings. The goal is a uniform blue-gray, but because the project is so massive and takes so long, the bridge often looks like a work in progress. Because it is.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has poured hundreds of millions into this thing. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about making sure the steel doesn't literally dissolve from the Atlantic salt spray. If you see crews up there in those white containment tents, they’re basically performing surgery on the city’s most important piece of infrastructure.
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Traffic, Tunnels, and the Fall River Experience
Driving the Braga Bridge is a rite of passage. If you’re heading eastbound, you drop off the bridge and immediately fly over the top of Government Center. It’s one of the only places in the country where an Interstate highway goes directly through a city hall building. It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s uniquely Fall River.
The traffic patterns are notorious. Because the bridge funnels traffic from Route 24 and I-195 into a single bottleneck, Friday afternoons are a test of human patience. People heading to Newport or the Cape get stuck here, baking in the sun over the Taunton River.
But there’s a silver lining. Being stuck on the bridge gives you time to appreciate the engineering. Those massive steel beams were riveted together in an era before computer-aided design was a thing. It was math, sweat, and a lot of high-altitude ironwork.
Safety and Modern Upgrades
Is it safe? Yeah, totally. Even if the rust spots look scary, the structural bones of the Braga Bridge are monitored constantly. The recent "Fast 13" and other bridge replacement projects in the area have updated the ramps and approaches. They’ve added better lighting and improved the drainage so you don't hydroplane into Somerset when it rains.
One thing local residents talk about a lot is the noise. If you live in the shadow of the bridge, you hear the "thump-thump" of tires over the expansion joints all day and night. It’s the heartbeat of the city.
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A Symbol of Resilience
For people in Fall River, the bridge is more than just a road. It represents the transition from the city’s textile mill past to its modern identity. It looms over the historic mills, some of which have been converted into luxury lofts or storage units. It’s the backdrop for every "Welcome to Fall River" photo.
When the sun sets over the Somerset side, the silhouette of the bridge is genuinely stunning. The orange glow hits the steel, and for a few minutes, the industrial grit turns into something poetic. It’s a reminder that we can build things that last, things that connect people, even if they require a lot of maintenance and a bit of patience.
Practical Tips for the Drive
If you're planning to cross the Braga Bridge, here's the reality:
- Check the Wind: If you’re towing a camper or driving a tall van, check the weather. Gusts over 40 mph make the crossing "white-knuckle" territory.
- Lane Choice Matters: If you’re heading Eastbound and need to get to Route 24 North (toward Boston), stay in the left lanes. If you’re going to downtown Fall River, get over to the right early. The lane shifts at the end of the bridge happen fast.
- Visit Battleship Cove First: To truly appreciate the bridge, you have to see it from below. Go to the maritime museum. Look up. The sheer amount of steel above your head is mind-boggling.
- Commuter Timing: Avoid the 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM window Westbound and the 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM window Eastbound. You’ll thank me later.
The bridge isn't just a way to get to the Jersey Shore or the Providence Place Mall. It's a monument to 1960s ambition. It’s a massive, heavy, loud, and essential part of the South Coast's DNA.
Next time you’re driving over, take a quick second (keep your eyes mostly on the road, please) to look at the Taunton River below. Think about the millions of people who have crossed those spans over the last sixty years. It’s a lot of history for one pile of steel.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit:
- Photography: The best spots for photos of the bridge are at Heritage State Park or from the deck of the USS Massachusetts. Sunset offers the best lighting for the steel structure.
- Navigating Construction: Check the MassDOT Twitter (X) feed or the real-time traffic maps before heading out. Long-term painting projects often result in narrow lanes or temporary night closures.
- Local Stops: If you're getting off the bridge in Fall River, hit up a local spot for some chowder or a "Coney Island" hot dog. The city's food scene is a hidden gem right at the base of the ramps.
- Safety First: If you experience car trouble on the bridge, try your best to make it to the Somerset side or the Fall River exits. There are very limited shoulders on the main span, making it a dangerous spot for a breakdown.