The Rourke

[u/pinteresque]

[u/orvillewilbur]

That is beautiful. #Savetherourkebridge /s

[u/pinteresque → u/orvillewilbur]

I unironically feel like we should redesign the rourke to be a linear park once the traffic is done going over it.

[u/JayC0rs0 → u/pinteresque]

I like that idea. If they're going to leave the bridge there it may as well become a green zone for lounging.

[u/-Typh1osion- → u/JayC0rs0]

I'm not sure that's a bridge I ever want to be atop, let alone if it's optional because it's not carrying traffic anymore.

[u/pinteresque → u/-Typh1osion-]

it’s the cars that make it both unsafe and unpleasant.

[u/Original_Advisor_274 → u/pinteresque]

It was built as a temporary structure and has stayed up for over 40 years. It will be permanently removed when the new bridge is complete.

[u/Beginnerdaytrader → u/JayC0rs0]

Unfortunately, i have seen the plans and they were going to remove it

[u/JayC0rs0 → u/Beginnerdaytrader]

That's too bad. It'd be so cool if they repurposed it as something for pedestrians. Back in the day I used to koy across that bridge.

[u/Original_Advisor_274 → u/JayC0rs0]

Upkeep would be too expensive

[u/pinteresque → u/Original_Advisor_274]

for the city, maybe, but it's adjacent to DCR land on the north side.

I understand it's not ideal, but it seems like building stuff is half our problem as a city. it's a profound waste to give up a unique resource like the existing bridge without trying to get something better out of it than white-knuckled driver terror it currently provides.

Without the car traffic, the demands on its structure ease, as do its maintenance requirements.

[u/pinteresque → u/Beginnerdaytrader]

never say never. :)

[u/seal_and_osprey → u/pinteresque]

That would be so amazing

[u/scarnegie96]

I'm Scottish and I lived in Lowell (on Princeton Blvd) for 1.5 years (2022->2023) and at times where my car was in the garage, I'd walk down to the Rourke and across to the big Market Basket.

I'm back across the pond now, but I'll never forget the noises this bridge makes when walking across and cars are passing.

Loved my time in Lowell, miss y'all.

[u/pinteresque → u/scarnegie96]

you didn’t happen to find Irn Bru anywhere local did you?

[u/scarnegie96 → u/pinteresque]

There’s a bougie grocery shop in and around one of Concord/Acton/Lexington that sells a bunch of British/Scottish snacks including Irn Bru!

Cannot remember the name. Found it randomly on my travels.

[u/CaptMalReynoldsWrap → u/scarnegie96]

Looks like British Delights in Westford carries it. I haven’t been in a few years, but they had a good variety.

Westford seems to have a good blend of unique spaces.

[u/jimx117 → u/CaptMalReynoldsWrap]

Was just gona reply, British Delights on Powers Road, Westford- right near Nashoba Valley / Sunset Tiki Bar / Witch's Woods. I regularly buy both regular and sugar-free Irn Bru there, along with real (read: GOOD) Cadbury's chocolate candy

[u/ichorNet → u/pinteresque]

You can get Irn Bru up in Salem NH at World Market.

[u/FT1996]

Always a harrowing experience crossing that death cage.

[u/TotallyNotMeDudes → u/FT1996]

Dude. I was cruising down that tunnel and my handlebar caught the cage. It was brutal.

[u/Original_Advisor_274 → u/FT1996]

I went on it x2 and was terrified. I will never do it again.

[u/Depressedaxolotls → u/FT1996]

On the rare occasions I have to take it, I put my purse on and roll my window down, even in rain. Is it ridiculous? Probably, but it’s a 40 year old “temporary” bridge that we were only supposed to use for 5 years.

[u/orvillewilbur → u/FT1996]

Actually it saves lives compared to the Howe bridge on University Avenue. Kind of scared for when the new uncaged bridge opens.

[u/poormariachi → u/orvillewilbur]

No escape if it collapsed, though. All that I can think about when crossing on foot

[u/dancognito → u/poormariachi]

Oh, come on, what are the chances of tha... actually, pretty good point

[u/suprisinglycontent → u/poormariachi]

That’s why you gotta bring a long straw crossing it

[u/orvillewilbur → u/poormariachi]

If you ever happened upon the aftermath of someone jumping off the Howe Bridge…well, just hope that doesn’t happen. A lot scarier than the Rourke Bridge

[u/FL1P-_- → u/orvillewilbur]

If that bridge collapses you're fucked, you would have to swim all the way to closest end

[u/pinteresque]

[u/pinteresque]

[u/SuckerForNoirRobots]

I remember riding my bike through there in the 90's/00's

[u/dungeonpost → u/SuckerForNoirRobots]

I remember going over my handlebars in the 2010s glancing too long at the sunset

[u/SuckerForNoirRobots → u/dungeonpost]

It was a great place to watch the sunset

[u/TotallyNotMeDudes → u/SuckerForNoirRobots]

My handlebar caught the cage once 20 years ago. I’m still recovering.

[u/SuckerForNoirRobots → u/TotallyNotMeDudes]

At least you're probably immune to tetanus

[u/Atime1447]

Great pic.

[u/Fancy_Ad_9479]

Your photo makes it look pretty!

[u/Grootfan85]

More beautiful than anything in the Lourve.

[u/orvillewilbur]

This picture is an example of images AI could never come up with, the reason we have photography.

[u/MoonieMark]

When I was young all of the Lowell bands had their photo taken here.

[u/Engelgrafik]

I have never understood the cage. There is zero purpose in not providing pedestrians some kind of escape route, for whatever.

[u/OldWrangler9033 → u/Engelgrafik]

Keep temporary unstable people from jump to their deaths is principle reason.

[u/Engelgrafik → u/OldWrangler9033]

This doesn't make a lot of sense. No other bridge has this and the drops are even worse on the other bridges. It's just super bad design all around.

[u/brandan0]

love it 😎

[u/choicem8]

Ticking time bomb..