Hadley Parabolic Bridge, Iron truss bridge in Hadley, United States
The Hadley Parabolic Bridge is an iron truss structure that crosses the Sacandaga River with a distinctive lenticular design. The bridge was built from wrought iron with pin connections that hold the frame together across the waterway.
The structure was built in 1885 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company at a location where another bridge had stood before. It replaced an older crossing that had served the river since 1813.
The bridge shows a chapter of American engineering from the late 1800s, when iron construction methods spread across many regions. You can still see today the distinctive connections and shape that were new and forward-thinking for their time.
The structure is now passable after major restoration work and carries regular vehicle traffic without special restrictions. You should be prepared for the narrow lane arrangement when crossing, as it accommodates only one vehicle at a time.
Only three bridges with this particular lenticular truss design were ever built, and this one is the only survivor still standing in New York. This makes it a rare example of a construction method that nearly vanished.
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