Brunswick Maine Photographer: Bravo to the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm smitten with the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. I've been to the top of the observatory at least ten times and I still smile in amazement each time I round the bend on Route 1 and catch the first glimpse of it ahead. I can't help but pull my car over and jump out with my camera, hoping I'll be lucky enough to catch a tugboat or ship making its way under the span.

The new structure, which is located adjacent to Fort Knox, carries U.S. Route 1 traffic across the Penobscot River near Bucksport--moreprecisely between the communities of Prospect and Verona Island.

More than just a bridge, it's an engineering marvel, a work of art. The 2000-plus-foot-long cable-stayed bridge (in the style of Boston's Zakim Bridge) sports one of only four bridge observatories in the world--yes, in the world, and the only one in the U.S. The 420-foot observatory tower, fashioned after the Washington Monument which was made with granite quarried nearby, offers incredible, panoramic views in all directions. On a clear day visitors can see the Camden Hills, Acadia, and even Katahdin.

Kudos to the Maine Department of Transportation, to Figg Engineering Group or to whoever it was who came up with the ingenious idea of incorporating an observation tower into the new bridge. In its first season the observatory drew almost twice as many visitors as officials had been expecting. I guess that shows a lot of folks were smitten, or at the very least intrigued.

I was fortunate to be asked to shoot photos of the bridge and observatory for a story that appears in Down East Magazine's April Vacation Planner issue. The issue won't be on newsstands until the middle of March, but subscribers are getting a sneak preview as the magazine is already showing up in mailboxes. If you are a bridge aficionado or just enjoy great views, check out Jeff Clark's story in the magazine.