William H. Putnam Memorial Bridge

The William H. Putnam Memorial Bridge is a steel girder structure that carries Route 3 traffic across the Connecticut River on four lanes. It spans between Wethersfield and Glastonbury, providing clearance of about 80 feet (24 m) for river vessels passing underneath.

The bridge opened in the late 1950s as part of Route 3 freeway development, initially linking Interstate 91 in Wethersfield with Main Street in Glastonbury. It became a key connection for growing traffic across the Hartford region.

The bridge serves as an essential transportation link in the Hartford area, connecting communities on both sides of the Connecticut River for daily commuters and travelers.

The bridge gets crowded during rush hours, particularly in early morning and late afternoon when commuters travel through the Hartford area. A pedestrian walkway allows safe crossing on foot.

In the early 1970s, plans existed to transform the structure into a double-decker design for Interstate 491, but the project was canceled in 1973. That ambitious expansion would have fundamentally changed the crossing and increased capacity significantly.

Location: Connecticut

GPS coordinates: 41.71420,-72.64080

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:24