Arrigoni Bridge

Steel arch bridge over the Connecticut River, a local landmark since 1938

The Arrigoni Bridge is a steel through-arch structure carrying Route 17 and Route 66 across the Connecticut River between Middletown and Portland. Completed in 1938, it is one of the more graceful bridges on the Connecticut River and has become a visual landmark of the city. Walking or cycling across is worthwhile for the river views — the Connecticut is wide and unhurried here, and you can see both bank communities clearly.

A parallel railroad swing bridge sits just downstream, dating from 1908 and still operational for freight. The combination of the two bridges — one elegant arch, one utilitarian swing bridge — creates an interesting architectural dialogue. The riverside park on the Middletown side is a good spot for watching traffic on the river.

things to do sight architecture
A story
The bridge was named for Edward Arrigoni, a Connecticut state senator who championed its construction during the Depression — a time when a bridge connecting Middletown to Portland was genuinely controversial, because ferry operators feared for their livelihoods. When it opened in 1938, it was the largest arch bridge in New England. The parallel railroad swing bridge beside it dates from 1908 and still carries occasional freight traffic.