Charter Oak Bridge

Charter Oak Bridge
Coordinates41°45′11.6″N 72°39′13.53″W / 41.753222°N 72.6537583°W / 41.753222; -72.6537583
Carries6 lanes of US 5 / Route 15
CrossesConnecticut River
LocaleHartford, Connecticut and East Hartford, Connecticut
Official nameCharter Oak Bridge
Maintained byGreater Hartford Bridge Authority (1942–1989)
Connecticut Department of Transportation (1989–present)[1]
Characteristics
Designstringer/multibeam or girder
Total length3372.0 ft (1027.8 m)
Width47.9 ft (14.6 m)
Clearance below69 ft (21 m)
History
Opened1991 (current span; original bridge opened in 1942)
Location
Map
A postcard of the old bridge

The Charter Oak Bridge is one of the three highway bridges over the Connecticut River between Hartford, Connecticut and East Hartford, Connecticut. The twin steel stringer bridge carries the Wilbur Cross Highway (U.S. 5/Route 15) over the river.

Named for Connecticut's famed Charter Oak, the original crossing opened as a toll bridge in the early 1940s, allowing through traffic to pass south of downtown Hartford. It was replaced by the current bridge in 1991, which is free to motorists.[2] It has an average daily traffic of 79,800 motorists.[3]

  1. ^ "Connecticut Department of Transportation". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "CT 15 Expressway: Historic Overview". The Roads of Metro NYC. Eastern Roads. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  3. ^ "2006 Traffic Volumes State Maintained Highway Network (Traffic Log)" (PDF). State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2021.