Editing Tobin Bridge (section)

====Draw span replacements====
As the New England Gas and Coke Company prepared to open its new plant upstream, a further widening of the north draw became necessary to accommodate [[Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation]] ships serving the plant. [[Henry Melville Whitney]] offered to pay $40,000 on behalf of the company to secure a width of {{convert|75|feet}}; however, the city instead chose a {{convert|60|feet|adj=on}} width.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74439128/the-boston-globe/ |title=Increases Offer to $40,000 |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=May 18, 1899 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74439151/the-boston-globe/ |title=60-foot Draw |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=June 10, 1899 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Preliminary work began in late 1899.<ref name=oct1899>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74439635/the-boston-globe/ |title=New Draw in Chelsea Bridge |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=October 25, 1899 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A temporary bridge was funded by the gas company ($14,000) and the Lynn and Boston ($7,000). A contract for $21,471 for the construction of the new draw span was issued on February 26, 1900.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74436913/the-boston-globe/ |title=Lee Must Go |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=February 26, 1900 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The new span opened on September 25, 1900, with a total cost around $75,000 ({{inflation|US-GDP|75000|1900|r=-3|fmt=eq}})<ref name=oct1899 /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74442063/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea Drawbridge Opened |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=September 25, 1900 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Another replacement of the north draw span began in early 1912, with the temporary bridge completed that August.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74587622/the-boston-globe/ |title=Rendle Gets Contract |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=February 24, 1912 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74588731/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=July 18, 1912 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=may1912>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74588905/the-boston-globe/ |title=Two Bridges to Cost More Than $500,000 |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=May 13, 1912 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The new steel truss [[swing bridge|swing span]] – claimed to be the largest bridge span in New England – opened on May 28, 1913.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74588176/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea North Bridge |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=May 28, 1913 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The {{convert|1400|short ton|adj=on}} span rotated on 64 wheels on a {{convert|44|feet|adj=on}} diameter circular rail. It was {{convert|363|feet}} long and {{convert|60|feet}} wide, and could rotate to provide two {{convert|125|feet|adj=on}}-wide channels large enough for oceangoing ships.<ref name=march1913>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74531646/the-boston-globe/ |title=Huge Draw Span of Chelsea Bridge North |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=March 17, 1913 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> As part of the $425,000 project ({{inflation|US-GDP|425000|1913|r=-5|fmt=eq}}), the wooden pile approaches were raised to eliminate a slope from the Charlestown viaduct.<ref name=may1912 /><ref name=march1913 />

The city planned to replace the south draw span shortly afterwards at a nearly equal cost.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74593441/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea Bridge Bids |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=July 16, 1913 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On March 14, 1914, the {{convert|230|short ton|adj=on}} temporary span from the north draw was moved in one piece – using the tide to lift the span on [[Lighter (barge)|lighters]] – to serve as the new temporary south draw.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74594713/the-boston-globe/ |title=Use Tide to Lift Draw |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=March 14, 1914 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74594809/the-boston-globe/ |title=Notable Feat in Bridge Building |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=March 15, 1914 |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The temporary span, with sharp [[reverse curve]]s at both ends, remained in use longer than planned.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74595261/the-boston-globe/ |title=Curley Takes Fight Into Murphy's Ward |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=October 27, 1921 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=april1924>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74597153/the-boston-globe/ |title=New Chelsea Bridge Open to Traffic |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 22, 1924 |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A $521,830 contract for the permanent span ({{inflation|US-GDP|521830|1922|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) was issued on April 26, 1922, and construction began on May 2.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74605766/the-boston-globe/ |title=Contract for Chelsea Bridge Draw Awarded |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 27, 1922 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=sept1923>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74606708/the-boston-globe/ |title=New South Draw on Chelsea Bridge Nearing Completion |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=September 12, 1923 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The new bridge opened on April 21, 1924.<ref name=april1924 /> It was {{convert|365|feet}} long, with a four-leaf [[bascule bridge|bascule]] draw {{convert|119|feet}} long and {{convert|61|feet}} wide, widening the channel to {{convert|75|feet}}.<ref name=sept1923 />

By early 1934, the north section of Chelsea Bridge was in need of repairs.<ref name=davenport>{{cite thesis |title=The Tobin Bridge : its history and politics |first=Kelly Ann |last=Davenport |year=1999 |institution=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |degree=MCP |hdl=1721.1/65466}}</ref>{{rp|12}} On June 27, 1934, traffic on the north draw was restricted to vehicles under {{convert|6|short ton|kg}} except for streetcars, using only one lane in each direction.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74612637/the-boston-globe/ |title=City of Boston |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=June 26, 1934 |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The century-old drawtenders' house nearly collapsed into the river on July 23, 1934, as piles supporting it sank into the riverbed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74613228/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea Bridge Drawhouse Tips as Supporting Piles Give Way |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=July 23, 1934 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A $292,222 contract ({{inflation|US-GDP|292222|1934|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) for repairs to the north span was issued on October 26, 1934.<ref name=oct1934>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74613933/the-boston-globe/ |title=North Chelsea Bridge Contract is Awarded |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=October 27, 1934 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The bridge closed to all traffic effective January 14, 1935.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74616177/the-boston-globe/ |title=Tunnel Tolls Cut on Monday |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 11, 1935 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Initial plans had called for streetcar service by the [[Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway]] (successor to the Lynn and Boston) to be maintained during construction.<ref name=oct1934 /> However, the Eastern Mass instead operated buses between Chelsea Square and [[Haymarket Square (Boston)|Haymarket Square]] via the [[Andrew P. McArdle Memorial Bridge|Meridian Street Bridge]] and the newly opened [[Sumner Tunnel]] under a permit issued just two days prior.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74615393/the-boston-globe/ |title=Cut in Tube Tolls Approved by State |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 12, 1935 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=century>{{cite book |title=Tremont Street Subway: A Century of Public Service |last1=Clarke |first1=Bradley H. |last2=Cummings |first2=O.R. |year=1997 |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |isbn=0938315048 |pages=38, 39}}</ref> The bridge reopened on December 23, 1935, without streetcar tracks; the Eastern Mass continued its bus operations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74615729/the-boston-globe/ |title=Chelsea Bridge Will Be Reopened Today |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=December 23, 1935 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=busreport />{{rp|231}} The [[Boston Elevated Railway]] began Chelsea Square–{{bts|City Square}} bus service over the bridge on July 2, 1936.<ref name=busreport />{{rp|58}}