The Longfellow Bridge, connecting Boston and Cambridge across the Charles River, is one of the largest and best known bridges in Massachusetts, in part because of the distinguishing granite towers that gave it the name, Salt and Pepper Bridge.

The bridge was completed in 1908 and replaced the original West Boston Bridge which had been constructed in 1793. It wasn’t until 1927 that the bridge was named in honor of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The bridge is over 2100 feet in length and has a width of 105 feet. In addition to two lanes of traffic in each direction, the bridge has north and south tracks for the MBTA’s Red Line and pedestrian and cyclist paths. Today, over 30,000 cars and trucks, over 90,000 MBTA Red Line riders and numerous pedestrians and cyclists cross the bridge.

In 2007, the Longfellow will see the beginning of a 42 month rehabilitation project. The project will include improving the structural capacity, bringing the bridge to code, improving lighting and cleaning and conserving the unique exterior.

So enjoy it while you can, because it will be covered with construction tarps and workers for the next four years.