Life in modern times can leave us a bit jaded and perhaps not as impressed by wonders as we should be. One thing that we encounter just about everyday but is actually pretty cool when you stop and think about it is the entire idea of a bridge. The fact that we're able to engineer these architectural marvels is impressive, and what's even more wild is that they're so commonplace that we don't even think twice about how neat they are! Many people love covered bridges in Connecticut for their quaint romanticism and quintessential old-school appearance, but today, we're featuring a different kind of bridge. The Bulkeley Bridge is a stone arch bridge in East Hartford that's pretty special in its own right. Check it out:

The Bulkeley Bridge is officially known as Bridge No. 980A, and you may also hear it referred to as the Hartford Bridge. It's the oldest of three highway bridges that span the Connecticut River in our capital city.

The Bulkeley Bridge has nine spans and measures 1,192 feet in total. It carries more than 142,500 cars across the river each day as they travel across Interstate 84, U.S. Route 6, and U.S. Route 44.

In 1818, the first major bridge in Hartford opened up. Pictured below, it was a 974-foot two-lane covered bridge designed to carry horses from Hartford to East Hartford.

The bridge was destroyed in 1895 in a fire.

Many people don't realize how historic the current bridge is. Construction started on the Bulkeley Bridge back in 1903.

While many bridges at the time were truss bridges or suspension bridges, designer Edward Dwight Graves opted for a more timeless stone arch construction.

The bridge is constructed from gray and pink granite.

The bridge opened up in 1908 to much fanfare. Construction costs were more than $3,000,000, making it by far the most expensive bridge in Connecticut.

Over the years, two additional bridges have been built within the city to help alleviate traffic concerns on the Bulkeley Bridge. In 1964, it was widened to eight lanes.

It's one of the oldest bridges within the Interstate Highway System that's still used today.

Did you know the history of the Bulkeley Bridge? What are some of your favorite bridges in Connecticut? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Looking for a cool way to show off your Hartford pride? I love this cool and colorful travel poster!