The Oldest Bridge in Maine is Nearly as Old as the Nation

The media often spends a lot of time talking about the state's larger, more traveled, bridges.

These bridges, some of which carry tens of thousands of vehicles per day, always seem to be in need of repair or replacement.

Of course, when you consider that the replacement for these bridges costs in the tens of millions of dollars, it really should not be a big surprise that we spend so much time talking about them.

Because of the amount of time spent talking about the bigger bridges, we sometimes forget that there are thousands of smaller bridges throughout Maine.

While some of these rural bridges cross rivers, many more cross brooks and streams. In some cases, these bridges are hundreds of years old.

Churchill Bridge is a great example of this.

The Oldest Bridge in the State of Maine

Based on the research we have done, the oldest bridge in the state is Churchill Bridge in Buckfield.

According to the National Registry of Historic Places, Churchill Bridge, which allows people driving Mountain Road to cross Bicknell Brook, was constructed by William Churchill in 1797. This makes the bridge 227 years old in 2024.

At the time of the bridge's construction, Churchill had a home near the bridge. It is believed in constructed the stone rubble bridge in lieu of paying his highway tax for that year.

Because of how small the brook is, it is possible for someone to cross the bridge without ever realizing it.

You can find additional documentation about the bridge HERE.