Depot Street Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Depot Street Bridge
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Depot St. over Naugatuck River, Beacon Falls, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1935 |
| Built by | American Bridge Co.; et.al. |
| Architectural style | Parker through truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000108 |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 2007 |
The Depot Street Bridge is a really old and important bridge in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. It carries Depot Street right over the Naugatuck River. This bridge was built in 1935. It's special because it was built using money from a government program that helped people find jobs during a tough time. It's also one of the few bridges left in Connecticut that uses a special design called a "Parker through truss." Because it's so unique and historic, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Contents
What is the Depot Street Bridge?
The Depot Street Bridge is found in the southern part of Beacon Falls. It crosses the Naugatuck River. The bridge connects Depot Street to Railroad Avenue. It is about 207 feet (63 meters) long. The bridge is 45 feet (14 meters) wide. This allows for two lanes of traffic. There are also sidewalks on both sides for people to walk safely. The bridge's deck is made of concrete. Steel beams underneath support it. The road surface is paved with asphalt.
How the Bridge Was Built
The Depot Street Bridge uses a special design. It is called a "Parker through truss" bridge. A truss is a framework of connected parts. These parts are usually shaped like triangles. This design makes the bridge very strong. The "through" part means that traffic drives through the main structure of the truss. The trusses themselves are above the road.
A Look at the Bridge's History
This bridge is actually the second one built at this spot. The first bridge was made of wood. It was located a bit further downstream. Sadly, a big flood in 1855 washed that wooden bridge away. A new wooden bridge was then built at the current location. In 1892, iron parts were added to make it stronger.
Building a New Bridge in the 1930s
In the 1930s, the state of Connecticut decided to build a new bridge. This was part of a plan to improve roads and bridges. The new bridge was built using special money. This money came from federal jobs programs. These programs helped people find work during a difficult economic time. The large metal parts for the bridge were made by the American Bridge Company.
Recent Updates to the Bridge
Work began in September 2009 to fix and update the bridge. This project was finished in 2011. The work included repairing the structure underneath the bridge. It also got a fresh coat of paint. These repairs help keep the historic bridge strong and safe for everyone.
