Red Bridge (Meriden, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Red Bridge
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Near Oregon Rd. over the Quinnipiac R., Meriden, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built by | Berlin Iron Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Lenticular truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001345 |
| Added to NRHP | December 10, 1993 |
The Red Bridge is a special old bridge that crosses the Quinnipiac River in Meriden, Connecticut. It was built a long time ago, in 1891, by a company called the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. This bridge is important because it's one of only a few "lenticular truss" bridges still standing in Connecticut. Because it's so unique, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Today, you can only walk or bike across the Red Bridge; cars are not allowed.
Contents
What is the Red Bridge?
The Red Bridge is located in the southern part of Meriden. It stretches over the Quinnipiac River, just a little bit upstream from where Oregon Road crosses the river now.
How the Red Bridge is Built
This bridge is made from strong wrought iron. It uses a special design called a lenticular pony truss. Imagine a lens shape, like in glasses – that's what the sides of the bridge look like! The bridge is about 82 feet (25 meters) long and its pathway is about 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide. It sits on sturdy stone supports made of brownstone. The part you walk on, the bridge deck, is made of wood and was put in more recently.
History of the Red Bridge
The Red Bridge was built in 1891 for the city of Meriden. The company that built it, the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, was the biggest builder of metal bridges in New England at that time.
Why a New Bridge Was Needed
The Red Bridge replaced an older wooden bridge that was also called "Red Bridge." The old bridge carried Oregon Road, which was a very important route between Meriden and Cheshire back then.
A Rare Type of Bridge
The Berlin Iron Bridge Company built over 100 lenticular truss bridges in Connecticut. However, less than twenty of these unique bridges are still around today. The Red Bridge is one of these rare survivors!
Changes Over Time
In the 1970s, cars stopped using the Red Bridge because a new road was built. The bridge was then used only by people walking or biking. In 2018, the bridge got a big makeover to fix it up, and it was reopened for people to enjoy on foot.
