Providence & Worcester railroad bridge
Encyclopedia
The Providence and Worcester Railroad Bridge is a swing
truss bridge
crossing the Connecticut River
in Middletown, Connecticut
. It carried the New York and Boston Air Line Railroad over the river to Portland, Connecticut
. The bridge is used by the Providence & Worcester Railroad to serve two customers in Portland. Since the bridge is usually left open, it may appear inactive. However, trains regularly cross the river carrying paper products and demolition debris. It is visible from Route 9.
The bridge was featured prominently in the video for the 1993 Billy Joel
hit "The River of Dreams
". Joel and three backup singers appear throughout the video standing on the western span of the bridge, with the open center section of the bridge behind them.
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
crossing the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
. It carried the New York and Boston Air Line Railroad over the river to Portland, Connecticut
Portland, Connecticut
Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place . It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown....
. The bridge is used by the Providence & Worcester Railroad to serve two customers in Portland. Since the bridge is usually left open, it may appear inactive. However, trains regularly cross the river carrying paper products and demolition debris. It is visible from Route 9.
The bridge was featured prominently in the video for the 1993 Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
hit "The River of Dreams
The River of Dreams
"The River of Dreams" is a single by Billy Joel. It is the title track and first single from his 1993 album River of Dreams. The song was a hit, peaking at #3 on the US and UK charts, making it his highest charting of the 1990s. It also hit the top spot in Australia and on the Billboard Adult...
". Joel and three backup singers appear throughout the video standing on the western span of the bridge, with the open center section of the bridge behind them.