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South State Street Bridge,
Bridge No. 3682
• South State Street over Rippowam River
• Stamford
• Stone arch
• Length: 3 spans of 30'
• Built 1847
The New York and New Haven Railroad built this substantial masonry-arch bridge in 1847 on what would
become Connecticut's most important rail corridor. Like other railroads of the period, the New York
and New Haven preferred stone bridges for major crossings because of its strength and durability;
iron was not yet widely accepted as a bridge material. Trainloads of passengers and freight rolled
over these arches until the early 1890s, when the New Haven Railroad moved its main line a short
distance to the south as part of its four-track expansion. The town then took over the bridge for
highway use.
The bridge is an outstanding monument to the early days of railroading in Connecticut. Although
modern railings and sidewalks have been added, the bridge retains much of its historic appearance.
Because of extensive rebuilding, large engineering structures from the state's first episode of
railroad construction are now extremely rare.
