Medford Pipe Bridge

The Medford Pipe Bridge is a structure crossing the Mystic River that carries two large water pipes beneath its deck using a plate girder design. It serves as a direct link between two major reservoirs while also functioning as a pedestrian crossing above the river.

This bridge was commissioned in 1897 to support the growing region's water supply needs using advanced engineering methods. A steel manufacturing company from New Jersey oversaw its construction and completed it as a major infrastructure achievement.

The National Register of Historic Places recognizes this bridge as a representation of late nineteenth-century engineering advancements in public water distribution systems.

The bridge connects two sides of the Mystic River between South Court Street and Mystic Valley Parkway and welcomes foot traffic across it. The structure is accessible from the surrounding area and can be viewed from multiple vantage points along the riverbanks.

Historic glass plate negatives stored in the Massachusetts Archives show photographs from the various construction stages of the bridge. These images provide glimpses into late 1800s construction techniques and methods.