Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
The Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, formally the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, is one of the best-known bridges in Boston. Its two inverted-Y towers and cable stays carry Interstate 93 across the Charles River between the North End side of the city and Charlestown, and they are a fixture of Boston skyline photos. If you searched for the famous Boston bridge with the tall towers, this is very likely the one. This page covers where the bridge is, when it opened, who it honors, the best places to see it and how it fits into a day with Boston Sightseeing. For the neighborhood on the far side of the river, see our guide to things to do in Charlestown.
Location
The bridge crosses the Charles River where the river meets the harbor. On the south side it connects to the area around TD Garden and North Station, and on the north side it lands in Charlestown, the neighborhood that holds the Bunker Hill Monument and the Navy Yard. It carries Interstate 93 and US Route 1, so it is a highway bridge, not a walking route.
That shapes how you visit. You see the bridge from Paul Revere Park, which runs up to it, or from the North Bank Bridge, a pedestrian and cycling bridge that passes beneath it. The Bunker Hill Monument is in Charlestown too, but it is not right beside the bridge, so allow time to get there. The Monument is also the end of the Freedom Trail.
History
The bridge has a short history, but it ties into a very long project and two older stories.
When Was The Zakim Bridge Built?
The bridge was part of the Big Dig, the project that rebuilt Boston's central highway system. It was dedicated on October 4, 2002, and opened to traffic in stages. The northbound lanes opened on March 30, 2003, and the southbound lanes followed on December 20, 2003. MassDOT adds that the last two lanes opened in early 2005. It replaced the Charlestown High Bridge, a truss bridge from the 1950s. Published sources put the cost at about $105 million.
Who Is The Zakim Bridge Named After?
Leonard P. Zakim, known as Lenny, was a Boston-area civil rights leader who worked to build ties between the city's communities. The rest of the name, Bunker Hill, marks the Revolutionary War battle fought in Charlestown in 1775. Bruce Springsteen performed at the dedication ceremony.
Design And Structure
The bridge is a cable-stayed bridge, not a suspension bridge. Christian Menn conceived it, working with bridge designer Miguel Rosales. Its main span is 745 feet, the whole bridge is 1,432 feet long, and the deck is 183 feet wide. MassDOT has called it the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It carries ten lanes: eight pass through the legs of the twin towers and two hang outside the cables. MassDOT says the inverted-Y towers refer to the Bunker Hill Monument, which links the structure to the neighborhood it lands in.
What To See
The bridge is at its best as a view, and its towers read clearly from a few spots. Light changes the look a lot, so the time of day matters as much as the place.
Where To See And Photograph The Bridge
Paul Revere Park, in Charlestown, runs between the Freedom Trail on North Washington Street and the bridge, and it has a large oval lawn and a playground. The towers rise above the park's eastern end. North Point Park, on the Cambridge side of the river, gives a lower angle that shows off the cables. You can reach it over the North Bank Bridge. For a skyline shot with the towers in the foreground, the riverfront near North Station and TD Garden is the easy option, and our guide to North Station explains the area. Street parking in Charlestown is limited, so most visitors arrive on the MBTA Orange or Green Line.
The Bridge At Night
MassDOT unveiled LED lighting on the bridge in December 2012. The system lets MassDOT create custom colors remotely, and it has been used for charity lightings and special events. There is no published nightly color schedule, so you may see white or a color that marks an event. Blue hour and after dark are the popular times for photos, because the lights reflect off the river. If you plan an evening in the city, our list of things to do in Boston at night has other ideas.
Nearby Attractions
Several of Boston's best-known sights sit within a short ride of the bridge, and they are the real reason many visitors come to this corner of the city.
- The USS Constitution Museum is in the Charlestown Navy Yard, where the historic warship is docked. Our page on the Charlestown Navy Yard covers the site.
- The Bunker Hill Monument is the granite obelisk on Breed's Hill, and the climb to the top rewards you with a view back toward the bridge.
- The North End is the old Italian-American neighborhood on the other side of the river, and the Old North Church there is tied to Paul Revere's ride in 1775.
- TD Garden is the arena at North Station, close to the bridge's south end.
- The Downtown Boston core is a short ride away if you want to continue to the Old State House and Boston Common.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zakim Bridge?
It is the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge that carries Interstate 93 and US Route 1 over the Charles River between the North End side of Boston and Charlestown.
What is the most famous bridge in Boston?
The Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge is one of the best known, because of its inverted-Y towers and its place in the Boston skyline.
When was the Zakim Bridge built?
It was dedicated on October 4, 2002. The northbound lanes opened on March 30, 2003, and the southbound lanes opened on December 20, 2003.
Who is the Zakim Bridge named after?
It honors Leonard P. Zakim, a Boston-area civil rights leader, and it also marks the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Is the Zakim Bridge a suspension bridge?
No. It is a cable-stayed bridge, where cables run straight from the towers to the deck.
Can you walk across the Zakim Bridge?
The bridge carries a highway, so it is not a walking route. Walkers and cyclists cross the river on the North Bank Bridge, which passes beneath it, and Paul Revere Park runs up to it.
When is the Zakim Bridge lit up?
The LED lights come on after dark, and MassDOT can set custom colors remotely, which it has used for charity lightings and special events. Check for current color plans before you plan a trip around one.
Does Boston Sightseeing stop at the Zakim Bridge?
No, the bridge is not a stop. Stop 9 (Historic North End), Stop 10 (USS Constitution Museum) and Stop 11 (TD Garden) on the Orange route are the closest stops, and the Boston & Charlestown ticket covers all three.
What is near the Zakim Bridge?
TD Garden and North Station are close on the south side. In Charlestown you will find the Navy Yard, the USS Constitution Museum and the Bunker Hill Monument.
Plan Your Boston Tour With Boston Sightseeing
The Zakim Bridge is not a Boston Sightseeing bus stop, but three Orange route stops sit around it. Stop 9 is the Historic North End, Stop 10 is the USS Constitution Museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and Stop 11 is TD Garden. Two tickets cover those stops: the Hop-On Hop-Off Boston & Charlestown ticket (Stops 1 to 11) and the 2 Days Boston & Charlestown ticket (Stops 1 to 11). Current prices are on the ticket cards below. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 only, so it does not reach this part of the city.
Buses run about every 40 minutes, from about 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. That means a daytime bus tour will not match the lit bridge, so plan the night view as a separate evening visit. We have not measured the walk from each stop to the bridge viewpoints, so check the map before you go. See every ticket on our tour packages page, find the stops on the hop-on hop-off tour map, or read more about Boston Sightseeing double-decker tours.
Our Tour Packages
Single Ride Pass
$33.25
Explore Boston in 90 Minutes
Ride above the crowd and enjoy the panoramic view of Boston
- Boston City Tour Single Ride Pass
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Charlestown Sightseeing Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off All Day
$41.55
Boston City Sightseeing Tour
Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Shuttle Bus Service
- Charlestown Tour
Hop-on Hop-off Boston & Charlestown Tour
$48.65
Boston & Charlestown Tour
Experience the charm of Boston & Charlestown with Boston Sightseeing at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 2 Days Validity
Cruise Terminal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$52.00
200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop 1-8, 12-15
- Blue & Purple Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 200 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Charlestown Tour
Boston & Cambridge City Tour
$63.00
Guided Photo & City Tour
A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
- Guided Boston & Cambridge sightseeing tour
- Approximately 3.5 hours
- Curated stops and photo opportunities
- Climate-controlled shuttle bus transportation
- Live local tour guide
- 45-minutes Quincy Market lunch break
- Same-day tour experience
- Double-Decker Bus Service
- Hop-on, hop-off service
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Hop-On Hop-Off Boston: Same-Day Tickets & Tour Info
A Boston Sightseeing hop-on hop-off ticket works the same day you buy it. There is no waiting period and no requirement to book days in advance.