The Wells River Bridge between Wells River, Vermont and Woodsville, New Hampshire, is a steel double-decked Baltimore truss bridge over the Connecticut River. It was built in 1903 to carry rail and road traffic.

Wells River Bridge
Wells River Bridge in 2007
Wells River Bridge in 2007
Coordinates44°09′15″N 72°02′26″W / 44.15417°N 72.04056°W / 44.15417; -72.04056
CrossesConnecticut River
Localebetween Woodsville, New Hampshire and Wells River, Vermont
Official nameVeterans Memorial Bridge
Characteristics
Designsteel pin-connected Baltimore truss[1]
Total length253 feet (77 m)[1]
History
Construction end1805, 1853, 1903, reopened 2001-2003
Location
Map

History

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The first bridge at this crossing was built in 1805.[1][2] In 1853, the Boston, Concord, & Montreal Railroad built a double-decked wooden Burr truss covered bridge over the Connecticut River on this alignment.[2] The railroad collected tolls from users of the highway.[2]

The current Wells River Bridge was built in 1903 by the Boston & Maine Railroad, which took over the route, to carry rail and road traffic, to replace the previous bridge.[1][2] In 1917, the road traffic was rerouted over a new bridge just downstream, called the Ranger Bridge.[1][2] The railroad continued to use this bridge until no later than 2001, when it was used for vehicle traffic while the Ranger Bridge was being rehabilitated.[2] As of 2007, this bridge is fenced off and unused.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Knoblock, Glenn A. (25 January 2012). Historic Iron and Steel Bridges in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 178–179. ISBN 9780786448432.
  2. ^ a b c d e f List of Highway Bridges on the Connecticut River Between Vermont and New Hampshire by 1906, with Notes on Later Spans (PDF). Concord, NH: New Hampshire Division of Historical Records. July 2009. p. 8. Retrieved 29 May 2015.