Lyman Viaduct, Railway bridge in Colchester, United States
The Lyman Viaduct is a railway bridge that spans Dickinson Creek in Colchester, Connecticut. It features a wrought iron truss design that was typical of 19th-century railroad engineering, with a long horizontal span supported by a tall framework of diagonal and vertical members.
The bridge was built in 1873 as part of the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad's expansion through Connecticut. This ambitious project aimed to create a direct rail route between the two cities, though it encountered economic obstacles during its early years.
The structure earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 due to its engineering methods and transportation influence in Connecticut.
Today, pedestrians and cyclists can walk or ride across this historic bridge as part of the Air Line State Park Trail. The path provides a way to experience a working example of 19th-century engineering while enjoying a route through natural surroundings.
In the early 1900s, the bridge was buried under sand and cinder blocks to protect it from decay rather than being demolished. This unusual preservation method meant the structure remained shielded from the elements for decades until it was later unearthed.
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