Sulphite Bridge
Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Last checked 2026-11-01 · Sources · More New Hampshire bridges
At a glance
- Status
- Listed in the state's covered bridge inventory[1]
- Year built
- 1896[1]
- Truss type
- Pratt deck truss, three-span[1]
- Length
- 180'0" long[1]
- Vehicle access
- Not verified
- Parking
- Not verified
Directions go to the bridge's mapped point, not a confirmed parking area.
About this bridge
Sulphite Bridge is a covered bridge in Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. It appears in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory. The state record gives its construction date as 1896. Its structure is recorded as pratt deck truss, three-span.
Bridge details
- Town
- Franklin[1]
- Location / road
- One mile east of Franklin Falls and south of U.S. Route 3 over the Winnipesaukee River on the Boston and Maine Railroad line[1]
- Year built
- 1896[1]
- Truss type
- Pratt deck truss, three-span[1]
- Length
- 180'0" long[1]
- Maintained by
- New Hampshire Department of Transportation[1]
- NH bridge number
- 62[1]
- World Guide number
- 29-07-09[1]
- Coordinates
- 43.44503, -71.63545[1]
History
The existing structure replaced a framed trestle bridge erected here in 1891 or 1892 by the Franklin and Tilton Railroad. This unusual bridge, built by the Bridge and Building Department of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1896, appears to be the only deck-covered railroad bridge left in the United States. It was named Sulphite because of the large amounts of sulfur transported over the rail lines for use by the giant pulp and paper mills not far from the bridge. It is also known as the Upside Down Covered Bridge because the railroad track crosses over the top of the structure rather than running through its center. Service over the line was suspended in 1973. The bridge sides are boarded over with 7/8" siding and the ends are closed. There was a fire inside the bridge on October 27, 1980 that is believed to have been arson. The Sulphite Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Text as published in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory, checked 2026-11-01.
Visiting
We have no official parking, accessibility or opening information for this bridge. Many covered bridges sit on working town roads. Park only where it is legal and safe, respect private property and posted signs, and check town or state notices for closures.
Not verified
We have not found an official source for: Crosses, Vehicle access, National Register ref., Parking, Accessibility, Opening hours or seasonal closures. We leave these blank rather than guess. Never assume a road means you can drive, park or walk here.
Map
Red dot: this bridge. Green dots: nearest bridges in our list. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Nearby bridges
- Keniston Bridge (Andover): 10.1 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Cilleyville-Bog Bridge (Andover): 11.8 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Dalton Bridge (Warner): 14.6 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Waterloo Bridge (Warner): 15.5 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Contoocook Railroad Bridge (Hopkinton): 15.8 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
Sources
- NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory: checked 2026-11-01
Spot an error or a closure? Report a correction.