Boardman Bridge

​The Boardman Bridge has the longest lenticular span in Connecticut and is one last remaining lenticular truss bridges in the state. It was built from 1887 to 1888 to replace the previous 1840 wooden toll bridge which was swept away in 1854. The wrought iron bridge was built during the period when iron was replacing wood as the preferred material, but before steel replaced iron as the preferred material.

As was common at that time, the bridge was built with decorative embellishments. The portals have a decorative builders plaque crested with a delicate interlocking floral design. The corners have winged orb finials, and the bridge originally had an ornamental railing. Unfortunately, some of these ornaments have broken off and been lost, and the railing was removed at some point.

The bridge was closed to traffic in 1984 when the adjacent Boardman Road Bridge was constructed. It remained open to pedestrians for another year before the deck was deemed unsafe. The portals were closed with a chain-link fence, and the bridge stands abandoned and neglected.

An attempt was made to restore the bridge in the early 2000’s, but the funds went to restoring the nearby Lovers Leap Bridge instead. There was additional talk of rehabilitating the bridge in 2017 to reopen it to pedestrians. The plans included removing the vegetation growing around and on the bridge, repairing the masonry abutment and wingwalls, replacing the timber decking, replacing the necessary structural components, and repainting the bridge. However, the funding is still being raised, and no concrete plans have been set.