Old Boardman Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old Boardman Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Across the Housatonic River near Boardman Rd., New Milford, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Built by | Berlin Iron Bridge Co.; Douglas & Jarvis |
| Architectural style | Lenticular truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001983 |
| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1976 |
The Old Boardman Bridge is a really old and special bridge. It used to carry Boardman Road over the Housatonic River in New Milford, Connecticut. It's called a lenticular truss bridge because its shape looks a bit like a lens.
It was built a long time ago, between 1887 and 1888. It's made from a strong metal called wrought iron. This bridge is one of only three bridges like it left in Connecticut. Another one, the Lover's Leap Bridge, is also in New Milford.
Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The bridge was closed to cars in 1984 and to people walking in 1985. However, the town of New Milford wants to fix it up and open it again for people to walk across.
What Does the Old Boardman Bridge Look Like?
The Old Boardman Bridge is in the western part of New Milford. It's located just north of the newer bridge that carries Boardman Road over the Housatonic River. There are small public parks at both ends of the bridge.
This bridge is a special type called a lenticular truss. It's made from wrought iron. The bridge is about 188 feet (57 m) long. The part where people used to travel is about 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) wide. It stands about 20 feet (6.1 m) above the river's usual water level.
The main parts of the bridge, called trusses, sit on strong stone bases. The different pieces of the bridge are held together with pins. Many diagonal and cross-shaped bars help make the bridge strong. The bridge deck, which is the flat part you walk on, was originally made of metal sheets.
History of the Old Boardman Bridge
Before this iron bridge, there was a wooden bridge built in 1840. But a big flood in 1854 washed that wooden bridge away.
The iron bridge we see today was built between 1887 and 1888. It was built by a company called the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. This was a time when iron was becoming popular for bridges, replacing wood. Soon after, steel would become the main material for bridges.
The Old Boardman Bridge was used for almost 100 years. It carried people, horses, buggies, and cars over the Housatonic River. In 1984, a new steel bridge was built to replace it. This new bridge is also called Boardman Bridge.
After the new bridge opened, the Old Boardman Bridge was closed to cars. But people could still walk on it for another year. Then, the deck was found to be unsafe, so the bridge was completely closed off with a fence.
In the early 2000s, there were plans to fix the bridge. However, the money ended up being used to fix another similar bridge in town, the one at Lovers Leap State Park.
What's Next for the Old Boardman Bridge?
On July 26, 2017, the New Milford Town Council decided to create a special committee. This committee's job is to figure out the best way to fix and reopen the Old Boardman Bridge. They want to open it for people walking and riding bikes.
The current Boardman Bridge doesn't have sidewalks. So, reopening the old bridge would create a safe path for people to cross between Route 7 and the Sega Meadows Trail. It would also connect to the future New Milford River Trail.
Plans to reopen the bridge include several steps:
- Removing plants and trees growing on and around the bridge.
- Repairing the stone bases and walls.
- Replacing the unsafe deck with a new wooden one.
- Fixing and replacing any broken parts of the bridge's structure.
- Giving the bridge a fresh coat of paint.
