Bulkeley Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Bulkeley Bridge is a stone arch bridge composed of nine spans located in Hartford, Connecticut
. The bridge carries Interstate 84
, U.S. Route 6
and U.S. Route 44
across the Connecticut River
, connecting Hartford
to East Hartford
. As of 2005 the bridge carried an average daily traffic of 142,500 cars.
The Bulkeley Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in use in the Interstate Highway System
. It is also the longest stone arch bridge in the world. The Bulkeley Bridge is named for Connecticut governor and United States Senator, Morgan Bulkeley.
The first bridge was built in 1810. Washed away in 1818, it was succeeded by a covered bridge, which burned in 1895. The current bridge opened in 1908.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The bridge carries Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
, U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. West of Hartford, the route either closely parallels or runs along Interstate 84. Interstate 84 has largely supplanted Route 6 as a through route in western Connecticut. East of Hartford, the route serves...
and U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west U.S. Highway running from Salisbury to Putnam.-Route description:From the New York state line at Salisbury to the Rhode Island state line at Putnam, US 44 runs for a total of in Connecticut. Most of US 44 is known in the state as the Jonathan Trumbull Highway...
across the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, connecting Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
to East Hartford
East Hartford, Connecticut
East Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. As of 2005 the bridge carried an average daily traffic of 142,500 cars.
The Bulkeley Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in use in the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
. It is also the longest stone arch bridge in the world. The Bulkeley Bridge is named for Connecticut governor and United States Senator, Morgan Bulkeley.
History
The current bridge is the third at that location.The first bridge was built in 1810. Washed away in 1818, it was succeeded by a covered bridge, which burned in 1895. The current bridge opened in 1908.