Arrigoni Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Arrigoni Bridge carries Route 66
and Route 17
over Route 9
and across the Connecticut River
, connecting Middletown, Connecticut
to Portland, Connecticut
. The bridge has an average daily traffic of 33,600.
Constructed from 1936 to 1938, when it opened in 1938 the Arrigoni Bridge was the most expensive bridge, costing $3.5 million. With two 600 feet (182.9 m) steel arches, the bridge is still the longest in the state. In 1938 it won the American Institute of Steel Construction's
first prize "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the large bridge category.
The bridge is somewhat of an icon and landmark in the area and is also a marker of where the water begins to freeze in the river (as south of this point the tides are able to bring enough salt water north to keep the water from freezing over.) It was named after the state legislator who promoted the project, Charles J. Arrigoni, and was designed by William G. Grove of the American Bridge Company and Leslie G. Sumner of the State Highway Department.
Route 66 (Connecticut)
Route 66 is a Connecticut state highway running from Meriden to Windham, serving as an alternate east–west route to US 6 through east-central Connecticut.- Route description:...
and Route 17
Route 17 (Connecticut)
Route 17 is a primary north–south state route beginning in New Haven, through Middletown, and ending in Glastonbury, with a length of .-Route description:...
over Route 9
Route 9 (Connecticut)
Route 9 is a , 4-lane freeway beginning in Old Saybrook and ending at the Farmington-West Hartford town line.-Route description:Route 9 begins at an interchange with I-95/U.S. 1, on the west banks of the Connecticut River...
and 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 Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
to Portland, Connecticut
Portland, Connecticut
Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place . It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown....
. The bridge has an average daily traffic of 33,600.
History
In 1895, the first non-railroad bridge between Middletown and Portland was built, but that and the earlier railroad bridge connecting the two communities were heavily damaged by flooding in 1936.Constructed from 1936 to 1938, when it opened in 1938 the Arrigoni Bridge was the most expensive bridge, costing $3.5 million. With two 600 feet (182.9 m) steel arches, the bridge is still the longest in the state. In 1938 it won the American Institute of Steel Construction's
American Institute of Steel Construction
The American Institute of Steel Construction, often abbreviated AISC, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association for the use of structural steel in the construction industry of the United States. It is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Their mission is to make structural steel the...
first prize "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the large bridge category.
See also
- List of crossings of the Connecticut River
- French King Bridge won the same award 6 years earlierFrench King BridgeThe French King Bridge is a three-span "cantilever arch" style bridge crossing the Connecticut River on the border of the towns of Erving and Gill, Massachusetts...
