Middletown–Portland railroad bridge

The Middletown–Portland railroad bridge is a swing truss bridge crossing the Connecticut River and Route 9 in Middletown, Connecticut, just south of the Arrigoni Bridge. Built in 1911, the bridge is a Warren through-truss swing bridge with an overall length of 1,142 feet. The center span rotates to allow vessels to pass through. It carried the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad over the river to Portland, Connecticut, and continues to serve Providence & Worcester Railroad customers in Portland. Since the bridge is usually left open, it may appear inactive. However, trains regularly cross the river carrying paper products and demolition debris. In 2017, a train that had just crossed the bridge derailed on the Middletown side near Johnson Street; no injuries were reported.[2]

Middletown–Portland railroad bridge
Coordinates41°34′00″N 72°38′52″W
CrossesConnecticut River
LocaleMiddletown, Connecticut to Portland, Connecticut
Maintained byConnDOT[1]
Characteristics
Designrail swing truss bridge
Clearance below25 ft (7.62 m)
Location

The bridge was featured prominently in the video for the 1993 Billy Joel hit "The River of Dreams". Joel and three backup singers appear throughout the video standing on the western span of the bridge, with the open center section of the bridge behind them.

  • Standing off the western end of the bridge, this image shows the deck of the Providence and Worcester bridge at Middletown, Connecticut.
  • Seen from Middletown's Main Street.

See also

References
  1. e-mail from Stanley C. Juber, ConnDOT
  2. "No injuries in train derailment in Middletown's North End". The Middletown Press. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.


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