The Friends of Fort Knox would like potential visitors to the State Historic site to know that the Fort will open on schedule, Wednesday, May 1. The Fort’s opening is unaffected by the delayed opening of the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, which due to Waldo-Hancock bridge deconstruction has been pushed back until Friday, May 24th. Fort Knox, will be open seven-days a week from 9 AM until sunset. The Maine Department of Transportation issued a press release explaining the delayed opening of the observatory, which is reprinted below:

News Release for April 30, 2013

For more Information:
Ted Talbot, MaineDOT Public Information Officer - 624-3030
Penobscot Narrows Observatory Delays Opening
Prospect – The Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory in Prospect will be opening on May 24th this year. While traditionally opening for tours on May 1st, the demolition of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge has pushed the date back so the contractor crew can have the needed space and time to safely finish their work.
When the Observatory opens on May 24th, normal visitor hours will resume from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of July and August, when the extended hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fun facts about the Penobscot Bridge Observatory:
· The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is the only bridge observatory in the United States, and only one of four bridge observatories in the world.
· The Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened on December 30, 2006, and the observatory opened on May 19, 2007.
· The bridge spans 2,120 feet from the east shore to the west shore, and there is 135 feet between the water and the bridge’s travel surface.
· The bridge cost $85 million to design and build. This bridge was planned, funded, designed, permitted and built in only 42 months.
· The top of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge is 447 feet tall. The observatory is 420 feet above the river and offers 360 degree views of the surrounding area.
· The design of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge incorporates a granite theme to honor the significance that granite has in the local economy.
· The Washington Monument was partially built with granite from nearby Mt. Waldo, leading to the design of the two towers in the shape of the Washington Monument.
· The observatory floor is tiled in granite that was cut from a quarry in Deer Isle

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