List of crossings of the Charles River

Last updated

Five bridges over the Charles River are visible in this photograph; in order from front to back, they are the Old Charles River Dam, Lechmere Viaduct, Commuter Rail Bridge, Zakim Bridge, and New Charles River Dam. Five Charles River bridges.jpg
Five bridges over the Charles River are visible in this photograph; in order from front to back, they are the Old Charles River Dam, Lechmere Viaduct, Commuter Rail Bridge, Zakim Bridge, and New Charles River Dam.

This is a list of the crossings of the Charles River from its mouth at Boston Harbor upstream to its source at Echo Lake (the four tunnels crossing the inner portion of Boston Harbor are not included). All locations are in Massachusetts.

Contents

Crossings

ImageCrossingCarries or connectsLocationBuiltLengthNotesCoordinates
Charlestown Bridge MA 02.jpg Charlestown Bridge (officially: William Felton "Bill" Russell Bridge)MA Route 99.svg Route 99 (N. Washington St) Boston to Charlestown 1900331.9 meters (1,089 ft) [1] The MBTA Orange Line used this bridge, before the upstream tunnel was completed in 1975.

Site of a ferry established in 1630; [2] obsoleted by the Charles River Bridge, built 1786

42°22′08″N71°03′36″W / 42.36889°N 71.06000°W / 42.36889; -71.06000 (Charlestown Bridge)
Charlestown Bridge panoramic view, looking west.jpg (New) Charles River Dam pedestrians and bikers1978Fish ladder, pumps and three locks for navigation.

Site of the Warren Bridge, built 1828, demolished 1962.

42°22′07″N71°03′41.10″W / 42.36861°N 71.0614167°W / 42.36861; -71.0614167 (Charles River locks)
ZakimBridge20040307.jpg Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge I-93.svgUS 1.svg I-93  / US 1 2003442.2 meters (1,451 ft) [1] Replaced Charlestown High Bridge, built 1956, demolished 2004 42°22′08″N71°03′49″W / 42.36889°N 71.06361°W / 42.36889; -71.06361 (Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge)
Haymarket North Extension tunnel MBTA Orange Line 1975
Leverett Circle Connector Bridge I-93 exit 18 onramp and offramp Boston to Cambridge 1999253 meters (830 ft) [1] 42°22′08″N71°03′52″W / 42.36889°N 71.06444°W / 42.36889; -71.06444 (Leverett Circle Connector Bridge)
Charles River Bridge from side with train 2013.JPG MBTA Commuter Rail Charles River Bridge MBTA Commuter Rail at North Station 1931Bascule drawbridge

Site of Boston and Lowell Railroad Charles River Bridge, built 1835, first movable railroad bridge in the United States [3]

42°22′8.29″N71°03′54.96″W / 42.3689694°N 71.0652667°W / 42.3689694; -71.0652667 (MBTA Commuter Rail)
Lechmere Viaduct from East Cambridge.JPG MBTA Green Line Lechmere Viaduct MBTA Green Line 1912 42°22′2.32″N71°04′8.29″W / 42.3673111°N 71.0689694°W / 42.3673111; -71.0689694 (MBTA Green Line)
OldCharlesRiverLock2001.jpg (Old) Charles River Dam Bridge MA Route 28.svg Route 28 (Charles River Dam Rd)191025 meters (82 ft) [1] The Boston Museum of Science is located on this bridge 42°22′01.66″N71°04′08.87″W / 42.3671278°N 71.0691306°W / 42.3671278; -71.0691306 (Charles River Dam Bridge)
Longfellow pru chopped.jpg Longfellow Bridge MA Route 3.svg Route 3 (Main St/Cambridge St)
MBTA Red Line
1907650.7 meters (2,135 ft) [1] MBTA Red Line in median; built in 1907 as the Cambridge Bridge, renamed for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1927.

Site of West Boston Bridge, built 1793

42°21′41″N71°04′32″W / 42.36139°N 71.07556°W / 42.36139; -71.07556 (Longfellow Bridge)
Harvard Bridge 20100116.jpg Harvard Bridge MA Route 2A.svg Route 2A ( Massachusetts Avenue )1891, 1909 (rebuilt), 1924 (overhaul), 1990 (rebuilt)659.9 meters (2,165 ft) [1] Longest bridge over the Charles. Northern terminus at MIT, not Harvard University. 42°21′15″N71°05′28″W / 42.35417°N 71.09111°W / 42.35417; -71.09111 (Harvard Bridge)
Bu-bridge.jpg Boston University Bridge MA Route 2.svg Route 2 1927built as the Cottage Farm Bridge, renamed in 1949 42°21′09.12″N71°06′38.26″W / 42.3525333°N 71.1106278°W / 42.3525333; -71.1106278 (Boston University Bridge)
Grand Junction Railroad Bridge MBTA Grand Junction Branchcrosses the river under the Boston University Bridge 42°21′09.69″N71°06′36.72″W / 42.3526917°N 71.1102000°W / 42.3526917; -71.1102000 (Grand Junction Railroad bridge)
River Street Bridge - Boston to Cambridge, MA - DSC03015.JPG River Street Bridge River St/Cambridge St1926 42°21′41″N71°07′00″W / 42.36139°N 71.11667°W / 42.36139; -71.11667 (River Street Bridge)
Western Avenue Bridge 2023c.jpg Western Avenue Bridge Western Avenue192485.3 meters (280 ft) [1] 42°21′51.25″N71°07′01.13″W / 42.3642361°N 71.1169806°W / 42.3642361; -71.1169806 (Western Avenue Bridge)
Weeks Bridge 2023c.jpg John W. Weeks Bridge pedestrians1926the only footbridge across the basin, with a Harvard campus steam tunnel inside 42°22′6.63″N71°07′05.26″W / 42.3685083°N 71.1181278°W / 42.3685083; -71.1181278 (John W. Weeks Bridge)
Anderson Memorial Bridge 2023g.jpg Anderson Memorial Bridge N. Harvard Street/JFK Street191270.7 meters (232 ft) [1] A memorial to Nicholas Longworth Anderson donated by his son Larz Anderson

Site of a ferry established 1635 at the foot of Dunster Street in Cambridge, at canal/creek; [4] obsoleted by Great Bridge, [5] built 1662, rebuilt 1862

42°22′08″N71°07′23″W / 42.36889°N 71.12306°W / 42.36889; -71.12306 (Anderson Memorial Bridge)
Eliot bridge cambridge.JPG Eliot Bridge Soldiers Field Rd, Memorial Drive 195091.4 meters (300 ft) [1] a memorial to Charles W. Eliot, Harvard president 1869–1909, and his son Charles Eliot, landscape architect for the Metropolitan Park Commission 42°22′18″N71°07′59″W / 42.37167°N 71.13306°W / 42.37167; -71.13306 (Eliot Bridge)
Arsenal Street Bridge, Watertown MA.jpg Arsenal Street Bridge Arsenal St/Western Ave Brighton to Watertown 192561.9 meters (203 ft) [1] 42°21′42″N71°08′50″W / 42.36167°N 71.14722°W / 42.36167; -71.14722 (Arsenal Street Bridge)
North beacon street bridge watertown.JPG North Beacon Street Bridge US 20.svg US 20 191762.5 meters (205 ft) [1] 42°21′32″N71°09′42″W / 42.35889°N 71.16167°W / 42.35889; -71.16167 (North Beacon Street Bridge)
Watertown Bridge.jpg Watertown Bridge MA Route 16.svg Route 16 (Galen Street) Watertown about 190727.4 meters (90 ft) [1] 42°21′53″N71°11′08″W / 42.36472°N 71.18556°W / 42.36472; -71.18556 (Watertown Bridge)
Watertown Dam.JPG Watertown Dam no crossing1900The Charles River Watershed Association has proposed removal of the dam. [6] 42°21′55.27″N71°11′21.34″W / 42.3653528°N 71.1892611°W / 42.3653528; -71.1892611 (Watertown Dam)
Corporal Thompson Footbridge looking upstream.agr.JPG Cpl. Joseph U. Thompson Footbridgepedestrians and bicyclesDemolished 2017 [7] 42°21′54.39″N71°11′24.97″W / 42.3651083°N 71.1902694°W / 42.3651083; -71.1902694 (Pedestrian bridge)
Joseph Thompos Footbridge span replacement.jpg Cpl. Joseph U. Thompson Footbridge (new)2018Replaced old span
Bridge Street Bridge.agr.jpg Bridge Street BridgeBridge St Newton to Watertown 29.3 meters (96 ft) [1] 42°21′56.87″N71°12′15.96″W / 42.3657972°N 71.2044333°W / 42.3657972; -71.2044333 (Bridge Street)
Bemis Dam Watertown 2009.jpg Bemis Dam (breached)no crossing1821 [8] breached 1944 42°21′56.58″N71°12′17.92″W / 42.3657167°N 71.2049778°W / 42.3657167; -71.2049778 (Bemis Dam)
Blue Heron Bridge facing upstream.agr.JPG Blue Heron Footbridge Charles River Bike Path 2005 42°21′53.33″N71°12′45.85″W / 42.3648139°N 71.2127361°W / 42.3648139; -71.2127361 (Blue Heron Footbridge)
Farwell Street Bridge Waltham 1930s.jpg Farwell Street BridgeFarwell St Waltham 33.4 meters (110 ft) [1] 42°22′1.3″N71°13′5.1″W / 42.367028°N 71.218083°W / 42.367028; -71.218083 (Farwell Street bridge)
CharlesRiverBleacheryFootbridgeSite.jpg Bleachery FootbridgeFormer pedestrian bridge site, demolished 1960s. 42°22′8.2″N71°13′20.4″W / 42.368944°N 71.222333°W / 42.368944; -71.222333 (Bleachery Footbridge)
CharlesRiver BleacheryDam.jpg Bleachery Damno crossing1794originally Gore Paper Mill dam 42°22′8.83″N71°13′22.74″W / 42.3691194°N 71.2229833°W / 42.3691194; -71.2229833 (Bleachery Dam)
Mary T. Early Footbridge.agr.jpg Mary T. Early Footbridge2004formerly Calvary Street Footbridge 42°22′10.74″N71°13′25.94″W / 42.3696500°N 71.2238722°W / 42.3696500; -71.2238722 (Mary T. Early Footbridge)
Watertown Branch trestle, Bleachery, Waltham in snow.jpg Boston & Maine Railroad trestle (abandoned)abandoned Watertown Branch Railroad Demolished in 2016 42°22′11.11″N71°13′26.29″W / 42.3697528°N 71.2239694°W / 42.3697528; -71.2239694 (Boston & Maine Railroad bridge)
Newton Street Bridge.jpg Charles F. Graceffa Bridge Newton Street187727.4 meters (90 ft) [1] 42°22′21.10″N71°13′43.51″W / 42.3725278°N 71.2287528°W / 42.3725278; -71.2287528 (Newton Street bridge)
CharlesRiver ElmStreetBridgeWaltham.jpg Elm Street BridgeElm St71.9 meters (236 ft) [1] 42°22′22.87″N71°13′57.19″W / 42.3730194°N 71.2325528°W / 42.3730194; -71.2325528 (Elm Street bridge)
Watertown Branch Railroad Bridge, Waltham.jpg Boston & Maine Railroad trestle (abandoned)abandoned Watertown BranchDemolished in 2015 42°22′22.21″N71°13′59.12″W / 42.3728361°N 71.2330889°W / 42.3728361; -71.2330889 (Boston & Maine Railroad bridge)
Landry Footbridge Waltham 2009.jpg Richard Landry Park footbridge1978 42°22′20.59″N71°14′5.95″W / 42.3723861°N 71.2349861°W / 42.3723861; -71.2349861 (Richard Landry Park footbridge)
Moody Street Dam, Waltham, MA.jpg Waltham Dam or Moody Street Dam1836original Eden Vale dam built 1785 42°22′22.87″N71°14′10.24″W / 42.3730194°N 71.2361778°W / 42.3730194; -71.2361778 (Moody Street Dam)
Moody Street Bridge Waltham 2009.jpg Moody Street bridge194668.6 meters (225 ft) [1] original built 1846, rebuilt 1871, 1921 42°22′23.61″N71°14′11.63″W / 42.3732250°N 71.2365639°W / 42.3732250; -71.2365639 (Moody Street bridge)
Prospect Street Bridge, Waltham MA.jpg Gold Star Mothers Bridge188940.2 meters (132 ft) [1] Carries Prospect Street; drawbridge 1882 42°22′7.91″N71°14′36.93″W / 42.3688639°N 71.2435917°W / 42.3688639; -71.2435917 (Gold Star Mothers bridge)
CharlesRiver Route30Bridge.jpg Commonwealth Avenue/South Avenue BridgeMA Route 30.svg Route 30 Newton to Weston site of old Norumbega Bridge 42°20′38.27″N71°15′41.01″W / 42.3439639°N 71.2613917°W / 42.3439639; -71.2613917 (Commonwealth Avenue (MA 30) bridge)
CharlesRiver I90-I95ConnectorNorthBridge.jpg I-90/I-95 connectorI-90.svgI-95.svg I-90  / I-95 original Mass Pike terminus until 1964 42°20′29.76″N71°15′42.51″W / 42.3416000°N 71.2618083°W / 42.3416000; -71.2618083 (I-90 / I-95 connector bridge)
CharlesRiver MassTurnpikeBridge.jpg Massachusetts Turnpike Boston Extension (Interstate 90)I-90.svg I-90 316.1 meters (1,037 ft) [1] 42°20′27.53″N71°15′39.42″W / 42.3409806°N 71.2609500°W / 42.3409806; -71.2609500 (I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) bridge)
I-90 I-95 connector bridge over the Charles River, Newton MA.jpg I-90/I-95 connectorI-90.svgI-95.svg I-90  / I-95 42°20′27.62″N71°15′34.98″W / 42.3410056°N 71.2597167°W / 42.3410056; -71.2597167 (I-90 / I-95 connector bridge)
Footbridge over the Charles River from Recreation Road to Riverside Road, Newton MA.jpg Footbridge from Riverside Rd., Newton to Recreation Rd., Westonpedestriansdemolished 2023; replacement under construction, scheduled for completion in 2025 [9] 42°20′28.36″N71°15′29.73″W / 42.3412111°N 71.2582583°W / 42.3412111; -71.2582583 (Newton / Weston pedestrian bridge)
Road bridge from Riverside Rd., Newton to Recreation Rd., Westondemolished 1960s around time of Massachusetts Turnpike Extension 42°20′28.36″N71°15′29.73″W / 42.3412111°N 71.2582583°W / 42.3412111; -71.2582583 (Newton / Weston road bridge)
Worcester Line bridge over Charles River.JPG CSX/MBTA railroad bridge Framingham/Worcester Line Single-arch concrete span 42°20′26.45″N71°15′25.44″W / 42.3406806°N 71.2570667°W / 42.3406806; -71.2570667 (CSX / MBTA railroad bridge)
Pedestrian bridge over the Charles River, Newton MA.jpg Pony Truss Bridge [10] pedestriansaccessible from Riverside Park [11] off Recreation Rd., Weston 42°20′24.16″N71°15′21.39″W / 42.3400444°N 71.2559417°W / 42.3400444; -71.2559417 (pedestrian bridge)
I-95 offramp bridge over the Charles River, Newton MA.jpg I-95 offramp180.4 meters (592 ft) [1] northbound exits 23–25; originally Route 128 until 1964 42°20′15.466″N71°15′26.56″W / 42.33762944°N 71.2573778°W / 42.33762944; -71.2573778 (I-95 offramp bridge)
CharlesRiver I95BridgeAtMartinGolfCourse.jpg I-95  / Route 128 I-95.svgMA Route 128.svg I-95  / Route 128 93.6 meters (307 ft) [1] 42°20′11.83″N71°15′31.04″W / 42.3366194°N 71.2586222°W / 42.3366194; -71.2586222 (Interstate 95 / MA-128 bridge)
Concord Street Bridge Newton 2011.jpg Concord Street/Park Road bridge24.7 meters (81 ft) [1] 42°19′50.04″N71°16′4.53″W / 42.3305667°N 71.2679250°W / 42.3305667; -71.2679250 (Concord Street, Newton / Park Road, Weston bridge)
Martin Footbridge Newton 2011.jpg Leo J. Martin Golf Club Footbridge Newton to Wellesley 42°19′42.16″N71°16′12.29″W / 42.3283778°N 71.2700806°W / 42.3283778; -71.2700806 (Leo J. Martin Golf Club Footbridge)
Newton Wellesley Lower Falls Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, Wellesley MA.jpg Newton–Wellesley Lower Falls Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridgerebuilt 2012 [12] formerly abandoned Boston & Albany RR Newton Lower Falls Branch bridge 42°19′36.34″N71°15′40.58″W / 42.3267611°N 71.2612722°W / 42.3267611; -71.2612722 (Boston & Albany RR Newton Lower Falls Branch bridge)
Finlay Dam Wellesley 2011.jpg Washington Street BridgeMA Route 16.svg Route 16 43 meters (141 ft) [1] 42°19′31.15″N71°15′30.07″W / 42.3253194°N 71.2583528°W / 42.3253194; -71.2583528 (Washington Street (Rt 16) bridge)
Finlay Dam 42°19′31.74″N71°15′15.78″W / 42.3254833°N 71.2543833°W / 42.3254833; -71.2543833 (Finlay Dam)
Cordingly Dam and Falls, Wellesley MA.jpg Cordingly Dam and Falls 42°19′31.6″N71°15′15.8″W / 42.325444°N 71.254389°W / 42.325444; -71.254389 (Cordingly Dam and Falls)
Mary Hunnewell Fyffe Footbridge, Wellesley MA.jpg Mary Hunnewell Fyffe Footbridge1983 [13] Previous bridges built in 1909 and before 1906 [13] 42°19′33″N71°15′16″W / 42.32583°N 71.25444°W / 42.32583; -71.25444 (Mary Hunnewell Fyffe Footbridge)
Wales Street Walnut Street bridge, Wellesley MA.jpg Wales Street/Walnut Street Bridge17.9 meters (59 ft) [1] 42°19′36.39″N71°15′11.42″W / 42.3267750°N 71.2531722°W / 42.3267750; -71.2531722 (Wales Street / Walnut Street bridge)
CochituateAqueduct CharlesRiverBridge.jpg Cochituate Aqueduct Closed.1848 42°19′27.48″N71°14′59.95″W / 42.3243000°N 71.2499861°W / 42.3243000; -71.2499861 (Cochituate Aqueduct bridge)
Interstate95 CharlesRiverBridgeNewtonWellesley.jpg I-95  / Route 128 I-95.svgMA Route 128.svg I-95  / Route 128 42°19′25.09″N71°14′57.36″W / 42.3236361°N 71.2492667°W / 42.3236361; -71.2492667 (I-95 / MA-128 bridge)
CharlesRiver Route9Bridge.jpg Boston-Worcester Turnpike BridgeMA Route 9.svg Route 9 23.2 meters (76 ft) [1] 42°19′00.5″N71°13′41.2″W / 42.316806°N 71.228111°W / 42.316806; -71.228111 (Boston-Worcester Turnpike (MA 9) bridge)
Dam, Hemlock Gorge.jpg Metropolitan Circular DamNo crossing.2010s replacement for older dam 42°18′59.6″N71°13′41.1″W / 42.316556°N 71.228083°W / 42.316556; -71.228083 (Metropolitan Circular Dam)
Echo Bridge - Newton, MA - DSC09470.jpg Echo Bridge pedestrians, bicycles, and the Sudbury Aqueduct Newton to Needham 1876 42°18′53.13″N71°13′37.17″W / 42.3147583°N 71.2269917°W / 42.3147583; -71.2269917 (Echo Bridge / Sudbury Aqueduct)
Newton upper falls.jpg Silk Mill DamNo crossing. 42°18′49.76″N71°13′34.82″W / 42.3138222°N 71.2263389°W / 42.3138222; -71.2263389 (Silk Mill Dam)
CharlesRiver ElliotStreetBridgeNewton.jpg Elliot Street/Central Avenue BridgeEliot St/Central Ave 42°18′44.30″N71°13′37.37″W / 42.3123056°N 71.2270472°W / 42.3123056; -71.2270472 (Elliot Street, Newton / Central Avenue, Needham bridge)
CharlesRiver FormerRRBridgeOffFremontStreet.jpg rail bridgeClosed.Formerly carried the Charles River Railroad. A proposal was made in 2023 to rehabilitate the bridge as a link in a proposed "Newton/Needham Community Way". [14] 42°18′26.08″N71°13′26.32″W / 42.3072444°N 71.2239778°W / 42.3072444; -71.2239778 (rail bridge)
NewtonMA NeedhamStreetBridge.jpg Needham Street Bridge Needham Street, Newton / Highland Avenue, Needham187527.7 meters (91 ft) [1] 42°18′23.51″N71°13′1.02″W / 42.3065306°N 71.2169500°W / 42.3065306; -71.2169500 (Needham Street, Newton / Highland Avenue, Needham bridge)
CharlesRiver FormerRRBridgeOffChristinaStreet.jpg Christina Street rail bridgeClosed.The City of Newton is studying the replacement of this bridge with a new structure. [15] 42°18′21.65″N71°12′46.73″W / 42.3060139°N 71.2129806°W / 42.3060139; -71.2129806 (rail bridge made pedestrian bridge)
CharlesRiver NahantonStreetBridge.jpg Kendrick Street/Nahanton Street BridgeKendrick St/Nahanton St49.4 meters (162 ft) [1] 42°17′49.57″N71°12′28.12″W / 42.2971028°N 71.2078111°W / 42.2971028; -71.2078111 (Kendrick Street, Needham / Nahanton Street, Newton bridge)
CharlesRiver MBTANeedhamBranchBridge.jpg MBTA Commuter Rail Needham Line bridge West Roxbury to Needham 42°16′46.17″N71°11′6.89″W / 42.2794917°N 71.1852472°W / 42.2794917; -71.1852472 (MBTA Commuter Rail Needham Line bridge)
CharlesRiver NorthernRoute109BridgeDedham.jpg Honorable Robert L. Cawley BridgeMA Route 109.svg Route 109

Bridge Street, Dedham / Spring Street, West Roxbury

West Roxbury to Dedham 21.3 meters (70 ft) [1] 42°16′15.02″N71°10′23.90″W / 42.2708389°N 71.1733056°W / 42.2708389; -71.1733056 (Honorable Robert L. Cawley Bridge)
CharlesRiver AmesStreetBridgeDedham.jpg Ames Street Bridge Dedham 35.7 meters (117 ft) [1] A footbridge was first built in this location in 1640 by William Bullard and John Eaton. It was the first crossing in Dedham. [16] 42°15′8.61″N71°10′34.37″W / 42.2523917°N 71.1762139°W / 42.2523917; -71.1762139 (Ames Street bridge)
CharlesRiver SouthernRoute109BridgeDedham.jpg Bridge Street BridgeMA Route 109.svg Route 109 21.3 meters (70 ft) [1] 42°15′14.85″N71°10′51.60″W / 42.2541250°N 71.1810000°W / 42.2541250; -71.1810000 (Bridge Street bridge)
Interstate 95 Route 128 bridge over the Charles River, Dedham MA.jpg Interstate 95/Route 128 I-95.svgMA Route 128.svg I-95  / Route 128 Needham to Dedham 98.5 meters (323 ft) (SB)
89 meters (292 ft) [1] (NB) [1]
42°16′1.96″N71°12′10.20″W / 42.2672111°N 71.2028333°W / 42.2672111; -71.2028333 (I-95 / MA-128 bridge)
Between exits 17 & 18 on I-95
Greendale Avenue Lyons Street bridge, Dedham MA.jpg Greendale Avenue/Lyons Street Bridge1879 [17] 17.1 meters (56 ft) [1] There has been a bridge on the site since the 1740s, but the current bridge was built in 1879. [17] [a] 42°16′1.33″N71°12′17.42″W / 42.2670361°N 71.2048389°W / 42.2670361; -71.2048389 (Greendale Avenue, Needham / Lyons Street, Dedham bridge)
Route 135 West Street Dedham Avenue bridge, Needham MA.jpg Route 135/West Street/Dedham Avenue BridgeMA Route 135.svg Route 135 17.1 meters (56 ft) [1] 42°16′3.67″N71°13′4.89″W / 42.2676861°N 71.2180250°W / 42.2676861; -71.2180250 (Route 135 / West Street bridge)
NeedhamDoverMA CharlesRiver ChestnutStreetBridge.jpg Chestnut Street Bridge Needham to Dover 33.8 meters (111 ft) [1] 42°15′35.40″N71°14′13.48″W / 42.2598333°N 71.2370778°W / 42.2598333; -71.2370778 (Chestnut Street bridge)
DoverMA CharlesRiver DamOffMillStreet.jpg damNo crossing.A USGS flow gauge is located here. 42°15′22.7″N71°15′34.8″W / 42.256306°N 71.259667°W / 42.256306; -71.259667 (dam)
Dam on the Charles River, Dover MA.jpg damNo crossing. 42°15′31″N71°15′46.8″W / 42.25861°N 71.263000°W / 42.25861; -71.263000 (dam)
South Street bridge over the Charles River, Dover MA.jpg Willow Street/South Street Bridge17 meters (56 ft) [1] 42°15′32.66″N71°15′47.26″W / 42.2590722°N 71.2631278°W / 42.2590722; -71.2631278 (Willow Street / South Street bridge)
Rail bridge over the Charles River, Needham MA.jpg rail bridgeClosed.Formerly carried the Charles River Railroad 42°15′26.97″N71°16′14.26″W / 42.2574917°N 71.2706278°W / 42.2574917; -71.2706278 (rail bridge)
Central Avenue Centre Street bridge over the Charles River, Dover MA.jpg Central Ave/Centre Street Bridge20.7 meters (68 ft) [1] 42°15′32.37″N71°16′17.31″W / 42.2589917°N 71.2714750°W / 42.2589917; -71.2714750 (Central Ave / Centre Street bridge)
missing bridge? 42°15′48.07″N71°17′5.55″W / 42.2633528°N 71.2848750°W / 42.2633528; -71.2848750 (missing bridge?)
NeedhamDoverMA CharlesRiver DoverStreetCharlesStreetBridge.jpg Dover Road/Charles River Street Bridge38.6 meters (127 ft) [1] 42°16′9.50″N71°17′59.43″W / 42.2693056°N 71.2998417°W / 42.2693056; -71.2998417 (Dover Road / Charles River Street bridge)
DoverMA ElmBank CheneyRoadBridge2.jpg Cheney Drive Bridge19.5 meters (64 ft) [1] Access road to Elm Bank Reservation. 42°16′32.68″N71°18′34.38″W / 42.2757444°N 71.3095500°W / 42.2757444; -71.3095500 (Cheney Drive bridge)
NatickMA WaterStreetBridgeAbutments.jpg Water Street BridgeNo longer extant.South Natick 42°16′13.8″N71°18′31.3″W / 42.270500°N 71.308694°W / 42.270500; -71.308694 (Water Street bridge)
Eliot Bridge.jpg Pleasant Street Bridge34.4 meters (113 ft) [1] 42°16′18.13″N71°18′54.52″W / 42.2717028°N 71.3151444°W / 42.2717028; -71.3151444 (Pleasant Street bridge)
Charles River at Grove Park (Natick, Massachusetts) - DSC09534.JPG South Natick DamIn 2022, the Town of Natick Select Board voted to seek state approval to remove the dam. [18] 42°16′17.27″N71°18′56.57″W / 42.2714639°N 71.3157139°W / 42.2714639; -71.3157139 (dam)
NatickMA CharlesRiver PedestrianBridge.jpg Sargent BridgeNo public access. 42°16′01″N71°19′16″W / 42.26696°N 71.32112°W / 42.26696; -71.32112 (pedestrian crossing)
DoverSherbornMA FarmRoadBridgeStreetBridge.jpg Farm Road/Bridge Street Bridge Sherborn to Dover 42°13′57.45″N71°19′48.67″W / 42.2326250°N 71.3301861°W / 42.2326250; -71.3301861 (Farm Road / Bridge Street bridge)
rail bridge CSX Framingham Secondary Sherborn to Medfield 42°12′53.43″N71°20′53.79″W / 42.2148417°N 71.3482750°W / 42.2148417; -71.3482750 (rail bridge)
South Main Street/North Meadows Road BridgeMA Route 27.svg Route 27 (Hospital Road)21.9 meters (72 ft) [1] 42°12′35.98″N71°21′6.23″W / 42.2099944°N 71.3517306°W / 42.2099944; -71.3517306 (South Main Street / North Meadows Road bridge)
former bridge? 42°12′28.00″N71°21′7.20″W / 42.2077778°N 71.3520000°W / 42.2077778; -71.3520000 (former bridge?)
Millis Industrial Track bridge over the Charles River, May 2017.JPG rail bridge Millis Industrial Track Medfield to Millis 42°11′18.38″N71°20′3.54″W / 42.1884389°N 71.3343167°W / 42.1884389; -71.3343167 (rail bridge)
Dover Road BridgeBridge site going back to 1640s, including one burnt by Native Americans during King Philip's War in 1675. 42°11′19.41″N71°19′59.76″W / 42.1887250°N 71.3332667°W / 42.1887250; -71.3332667 (Dover Road bridge)
MillisAndMedfieldMA Route109CharlesRiverBridge.jpg Turner Bridge (Main Street Bridge)MA Route 109.svg Route 109 20.1 meters (66 ft) [1] 42°10′52″N71°19′21.52″W / 42.18111°N 71.3226444°W / 42.18111; -71.3226444 (Main Street bridge)
MillisAndMedfieldMA CharlesRiverWithDwightStreetBridgeAbutment.jpg Dwight's BridgeDwight Street Millis to MedfieldOver the Charles River off Causeway Street on Dwight Street. This was so named and built so Timothy Dwight could get to land he owned in the area. This bridge was washed out in the Great 1936 Flood and never rebuilt. [19] 42°10′24.8″N71°19′23.3″W / 42.173556°N 71.323139°W / 42.173556; -71.323139 (Dwight Street bridge site)
MillisAndMedfieldMA ForestRoadBridge.jpg Forest Road/Orchard Street Bridge17.7 meters (58 ft) [1] 42°9′28.26″N71°19′55.43″W / 42.1578500°N 71.3320639°W / 42.1578500; -71.3320639 (Forest Road / Orchard Street bridge)
MillisMA Route115CharlesRiverBridge.jpg Norfolk Road BridgeMA Route 115.svg Route 115 Millis 21.9 meters (72 ft) [1] 42°8′35.80″N71°20′57.42″W / 42.1432778°N 71.3492833°W / 42.1432778; -71.3492833 (Norfolk Road bridge)
Dean Street/Pleasant Street Bridge 42°8′17.64″N71°21′31.08″W / 42.1382333°N 71.3586333°W / 42.1382333; -71.3586333 (Dean Street / Pleasant Street bridge)
Medway Branch abutments on the Charles River, October 2020.jpg Destroyed railroad bridge Medway Branch 1852Rail line was abandoned in 1864. Bridge abutments remain. 42°08′06″N71°21′37″W / 42.135027°N 71.36036°W / 42.135027; -71.36036
Myrtle Street bridge22.1 meters (73 ft) [1] 42°8′0.63″N71°21′42.86″W / 42.1335083°N 71.3619056°W / 42.1335083; -71.3619056 (Myrtle Street bridge)
Medway Branch bridge abutment, May 2017.JPG Destroyed railroad bridge Medway Branch 1852 Medway Rail line was abandoned in 1864. Bridge abutments remain. 42°08′16″N71°23′10″W / 42.137669°N 71.386178°W / 42.137669; -71.386178
Walker Street Bridge24.4 meters (80 ft) [1] 42°8′24.32″N71°23′22.39″W / 42.1400889°N 71.3895528°W / 42.1400889; -71.3895528 (Walker Street bridge)
Sanford Mills on the Charles River, Medway MA.jpg Sanford Street Bridge Medway to Franklin 42°8′17.96″N71°23′54″W / 42.1383222°N 71.39833°W / 42.1383222; -71.39833 (Sanford Street bridge)
Charles River, Medway MA.jpg Sanford Mill Dam 42°8′19.2″N71°23′55.4″W / 42.138667°N 71.398722°W / 42.138667; -71.398722 (Sanford Mill dam)
Shaw Street/Elm Street Bridge 42°8′11.40″N71°25′6.72″W / 42.1365000°N 71.4185333°W / 42.1365000; -71.4185333 (Shaw Street / Elm Street bridge)
Woodland Park Bridge 42°8′19.39″N71°25′18.92″W / 42.1387194°N 71.4219222°W / 42.1387194; -71.4219222 (Woodland Park bridge)
damNo crossing. 42°8′20.62″N71°25′27.07″W / 42.1390611°N 71.4241861°W / 42.1390611; -71.4241861 (dam)
Franklin Street/Pond Street Bridge10.1 meters (33 ft) [1] 42°8′17.36″N71°25′51.87″W / 42.1381556°N 71.4310750°W / 42.1381556; -71.4310750 (Franklin Street / Pond Street bridge)
Pearl Street Bridge Bellingham 20.5 meters (67 ft) [1] 42°7′51.52″N71°26′38.53″W / 42.1309778°N 71.4440361°W / 42.1309778; -71.4440361 (Pearl Street bridge)
Plymouth Road Bridge12.5 meters (41 ft) [1] 42°7′22.07″N71°26′51.69″W / 42.1227972°N 71.4476917°W / 42.1227972; -71.4476917 (Plymouth Road bridge)
CharlesRiver MapleStreetBridge.jpg Maple Street Bridge12.2 meters (40 ft) [1] 42°7′10.32″N71°27′12.35″W / 42.1195333°N 71.4534306°W / 42.1195333; -71.4534306 (Maple Street bridge)
CharlesRiver MapleStreetDam.jpg Maple Street Dam 42°7′8.6″N71°27′15.2″W / 42.119056°N 71.454222°W / 42.119056; -71.454222 (Maple Street dam)
I-495 bridgeI-495.svg I-495 10.1 meters (33 ft) [1] 42°06′27″N71°27′30″W / 42.10750°N 71.45833°W / 42.10750; -71.45833 (I-495 bridge)
CharlesRiver BellinghamHighStreetBridge.jpg High Street Bridge10.7 meters (35 ft) [1] 42°5′50.69″N71°27′33.07″W / 42.0974139°N 71.4591861°W / 42.0974139; -71.4591861 (High Street bridge)
CharlesRiver BellinghamFootbridge.jpg footbridgeOnetime road bridge site 42°5′22.91″N71°28′13.16″W / 42.0896972°N 71.4703222°W / 42.0896972; -71.4703222 (Footbridge)
CharlesRiver NorthMainStreetBridge Bellingham.jpg North Main Street BridgeMA Route 126.svg Route 126 9.4 meters (31 ft) [1] 42°05′39″N71°28′34″W / 42.09417°N 71.47611°W / 42.09417; -71.47611 (North Main Street bridge)
rail bridge 42°5′39.54″N71°28′50.71″W / 42.0943167°N 71.4807528°W / 42.0943167; -71.4807528 (rail bridge)
Depot Street Bridge16.5 meters (54 ft) [1] 42°5′38.39″N71°28′55.65″W / 42.0939972°N 71.4821250°W / 42.0939972; -71.4821250 (Depot Street bridge)
Hartford Avenue Bridge Bellingham to Mendon/Hopedale 42°6′12.41″N71°29′59.19″W / 42.1034472°N 71.4997750°W / 42.1034472; -71.4997750 (Hartford Avenue bridge)
rail bridge Bellingham to Hopedale 42°06′41.8″N71°30′4.9″W / 42.111611°N 71.501361°W / 42.111611; -71.501361 (rail bridge)
BellinghamAndHopedaleMA CharlesRiver MellenStreetBridge.jpg Mellen Street Bridge and Dam Bellingham to Hopedale 42°07′0.8″N71°30′5″W / 42.116889°N 71.50139°W / 42.116889; -71.50139 (Mellon Street bridge and dam)
HopedaleAndMilfordMA CharlesRiver HowardStreetBridge.jpg Howard Street Bridge Hopedale to Milford 42°07′5.30″N71°30′17.88″W / 42.1181389°N 71.5049667°W / 42.1181389; -71.5049667 (Howard Street bridge)
HopedaleAndMilfordMA CharlesRiver RRBridgeNorthOfHowardStreet.jpg rail bridge 42°7′7.22″N71°30′20.97″W / 42.1186722°N 71.5058250°W / 42.1186722; -71.5058250 (rail bridge)
MilfordMA CharlesRiver HowardStreetBridge.jpg Howard Street Bridge Milford 42°07′32″N71°30′33″W / 42.12556°N 71.50917°W / 42.12556; -71.50917 (Howard Street bridge)
MilfordMA CharlesRiver RRBridgeNorthOfHowardStreet.jpg rail bridge 42°7′36.9″N71°30′33.9″W / 42.126917°N 71.509417°W / 42.126917; -71.509417 (rail bridge)
MilfordMA CharlesRiver CentralStreetBridge.jpg Central Street Bridge 42°08′21″N71°30′45″W / 42.13917°N 71.51250°W / 42.13917; -71.51250 (Central Street bridge)
MilfordMA CharlesRiverRoute16CulvertUpperEnd.jpg Main Street CulvertMA Route 16.svg Route 16 42°08′37″N71°30′47″W / 42.14361°N 71.51306°W / 42.14361; -71.51306 (Main Street culvert)
MilfordMA MilfordPondFootbridge.jpg Milford Pond Dam and Footbridge 42°08′50.9″N71°30′49.2″W / 42.147472°N 71.513667°W / 42.147472; -71.513667 (Milford Pond Dam and Footbridge)
MilfordMA DillaStreetBridgeAndDam.jpg Dilla Street Bridge 42°09′41″N71°30′43″W / 42.16139°N 71.51194°W / 42.16139; -71.51194 (Dilla Street bridge)
Dilla Street Dam 42°09′41.3″N71°30′41.8″W / 42.161472°N 71.511611°W / 42.161472; -71.511611 (Dilla Street dam)
MilfordMA UpperCharlesTrail OldRoadBridge.jpg old road bridge 42°09′52.3″N71°30′38.7″W / 42.164528°N 71.510750°W / 42.164528; -71.510750 (old road bridge)
MilfordMA UpperCharlesTrail CharlesRiverCrossingNorthOfCedarStreet.jpg culvertUpper Charles Trail 42°09′52.4″N71°30′38.9″W / 42.164556°N 71.510806°W / 42.164556; -71.510806 (culvert)
MilfordMA I495 CharlesRiverCulvert.jpg I-495 culvert (Exit 20)I-495.svg I-495 42°10′04″N71°30′41″W / 42.16778°N 71.51139°W / 42.16778; -71.51139 (I-495 bridge)
CharlesRiver WildcatPond BridgeAndDam.jpg Wildcat Pond Bridge and DamPrivate road 42°7′8.6″N71°27′15.2″W / 42.119056°N 71.454222°W / 42.119056; -71.454222 (Wildcat Pond Bridge and Dam)
CharlesRiver MilfordTrailsFootbridge4.jpg footbridge 42°10′22.3″N71°30′34.3″W / 42.172861°N 71.509528°W / 42.172861; -71.509528 (footbridge)
CharlesRiver MilfordUpperCharlesRiverTrail SouthernBridge.jpg bridgeUpper Charles River Trail 42°10′25.7″N71°30′30.6″W / 42.173806°N 71.508500°W / 42.173806; -71.508500 (Upper Charles River Trail bridge)
CharlesRiver SouthernRoute85Bridge.jpg Route 85 bridgeMA Route 85.svg Route 85 42°10′26″N71°30′30″W / 42.17389°N 71.50833°W / 42.17389; -71.50833 (Route 85 bridge)
CharlesRiver MilfordTrailsFootbridge3.jpg footbridge 42°10′43.7″N71°30′21.7″W / 42.178806°N 71.506028°W / 42.178806; -71.506028 (footbridge)
CharlesRiver MilfordUpperCharlesRiverTrail NorthernBridge.jpg bridgeUpper Charles River Trail 42°10′44.1″N71°30′22.1″W / 42.178917°N 71.506139°W / 42.178917; -71.506139 (Upper Charles River Trail bridge)
CharlesRiver MilfordTrailsFootbridge2.jpg footbridge 42°10′52.5″N71°30′19.7″W / 42.181250°N 71.505472°W / 42.181250; -71.505472 (footbridge)
CharlesRiver MilfordTrailsFootbridge1.jpg footbridge 42°10′54.8″N71°30′20.8″W / 42.181889°N 71.505778°W / 42.181889; -71.505778 (footbridge)
CharlesRiver NorthernRoute85Bridge.jpg Route 85 bridgeMA Route 85.svg Route 85 42°10′55″N71°30′22″W / 42.18194°N 71.50611°W / 42.18194; -71.50611 (Route 85 bridge)
CharlesRiver EchoLakeDam.jpg Echo Lake DamNo crossing. Hopkinton 42°11′32″N71°30′28.7″W / 42.19222°N 71.507972°W / 42.19222; -71.507972 (Echo Lake Dam)

Source: Echo Lake 42°11′35″N71°30′43″W / 42.193012°N 71.5119°W / 42.193012; -71.5119 (Echo Lake (river source))

See also

Notes

  1. Lyons Street originally ran as far as Common Street but was cut short and dead ended when Route 128 was built. [17] Lyons Street is named for a 19th century landowner, Elisha Lyon. [17] Lyon lived on the Needham side of the Charles River. [17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Massachusetts Bridges Spanning the Charles River. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDoT).
  2. "Some Events Around Boston". Kellscraft.com. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  3. "HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD - Boston & Maine Railroad: Charles River Bridges - MA-22" . Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  4. "Publications - Cambridge Historical Society (Mass.) - Google Books". Books.google.com. 1911. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  5. Paige, Lucius Robinson (1877). History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630–1877: With a Genealogical Register. Hurd and Houghton. p. 195. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  6. "Dam Removal". Charles River Watershed Association. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  7. "DCR Recreational Advisory: Joseph Thompson Pedestrian Bridge in Watertown".
  8. "The Bemis Dam: A forgotten Link to Our Industrial Past". Historic Newton. City of Newton. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. "Mending a Gap in the Riverside Greenway". NewtonConservators.org. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  10. "New Pedestrian Bridges and Trails in Riverside Park". NewtonConservators.org. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  11. "Leo J. Martin Golf Course and Riverside Park". NewtonConservators.org. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  12. "Newton Lower Falls bridge". Newton Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force. July 31, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Mary Hunnewell Fyffe Footbridge". Newton Conservators. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  14. "Planning for the Newton/Needham Community Way". NewtonConservators.org. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  15. "Christina Street Bridge". NewtonMA.gov. City of Newton, MA. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  16. Alden, John Eaton; Eaton, Daniel Cady (1900). Eaton Family of Dedham and the Powder House Rock. p. 16. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Parr, James (January 20, 2023). "Where in Dedham: Lyons Bridge". Dedham Tales.
  18. Reale, Hannah (November 10, 2022). "Natick will remove its 90-year-old dam after contentious process". GBH News. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  19. "DeSorgher: Cross That Bridge When You Get to It". Medfield, MA Patch. January 6, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2018.