The East Haddam Swing Bridge is a steel, movable (swing) truss bridge. The bridge is composed of three spans crossing the Connecticut River between Haddam, Connecticut and East Haddam, Connecticut.^[3] The bridge carries Route 82, with an average daily traffic of 11,600.^[4] At the time of its construction, it was reputed to be the longest swing bridge of its kind in the world.^[5]

Quick Facts Coordinates, Carries ...

East Haddam Swing Bridge
The bridge in 2011
Coordinates	41.45173°N 72.46432°W / 41.45173; -72.46432
Carries	Route 82
Crosses	Connecticut River
Locale	Haddam and East Haddam, Connecticut
Maintained by	Connecticut Department of Transportation
ID number	1138[1]
Characteristics
Design	Swing truss
Total length	881 feet (269 m)[1]
Width	24.6 ft (7.5 m)
Longest span	456 feet (139 m)[1] 326.1 feet (99.4 m)[2]
Clearance below	24.9 ft (7.6 m)
History
Opened	1913 (restored 1999, 2007, 2023)
Statistics
Daily traffic	11,600
Location

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In 1909, a Governor's commission on transportation recommended the construction of a bridge over the Connecticut River connecting East Haddam and Haddam.^[6] Accepting this recommendation, to the triumph of the local communities, the state diverted aid used to fund ferry services to building the East Haddam Bridge,^[6] becoming one of the first bridges funded by the state.^[3] Since ferry service had been the main mode of transportation beginning in 1694, the East Haddam bridge marked a shift toward more modern means for travel across the Connecticut River.^[7] Construction of the bridge began in April 1912 and was completed in June 1913.^[6]

On June 14, 1913, Flag Day, the East Haddam Swing Bridge officially opened. It was hailed as an ornament to the "age of progressiveness".^[6] The celebration included an address by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, a 17-gun salute, a Model-T automobile parade, and a concert that drew thousands to the event.^[7]

At the time, the State Highway Department had no authority over bridges.^[3] This meant the state legislature formed special commissions took the lead on building the East Haddam Bridge.^[3] Legislation in 1915 gave the responsibility for all trunk-line bridges in Connecticut, including the East Haddam Bridge, over to the State Highway Department.^[3]

A centennial celebration for the bridge was marked on June 15, 2013, with a local parade of antique cars.^[7] The East Haddam swing bridge has been judged as being "Individually Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places".^[8]

The state hired Edward W. Bush, a prominent civil engineer in Connecticut at the time, to be the chief engineer of the project.^[6] He also designed the piers and approach roadways.^[3] The state also hired Boller, Hodge & Baird engineers.^[3] A contract for the superstructure of the bridge was given to Holbrook, Cabot, and Rollins of Boston.^[6] A contract for the substructure of the bridge was given to American Bridge Company.^[6] The pin-connected drawbridge was designed by Alfred P. Boller, an authority on deep bridge foundations, to allow the bridge to pivot/swing, clearing a path for through river travel.^[9]

The 3 spans of the bridge are all composed of rivet-connecting steel members.^[6] From west to east, the three spans include: A Warren deck truss (101 ft long), a Pennsylvania through truss (327 ft long and one of the longest in the state^[3]), and a swing span (461 ft long).^[6] Together they bring the total length of the swing bridge to 889 ft.^[10][9] The stone-block piers and abutments are built on timber pilings.^[3]

The East Haddam Bridge incorporates numerous interesting technical features, including a center-bearing pivot and moving-wedge end lifts that support the ends of the bridge when closed.^[3]

• List of crossings of the Connecticut River