The first bridge at this crossing was built in 1805.[1][2] In 1853, the Boston, Concord, & Montreal Railroad built a double-decked wooden Burr truss covered bridge over the Connecticut River on this alignment.[2] The railroad collected tolls from users of the highway.[2]
The current Wells River Bridge was built in 1903 by the Boston & Maine Railroad, which took over the route, to carry rail and road traffic, to replace the previous bridge.[1][2] In 1917, the road traffic was rerouted over a new bridge just downstream, called the Ranger Bridge.[1][2] The railroad continued to use this bridge until no later than 2001, when it was used for vehicle traffic while the Ranger Bridge was being rehabilitated.[2] As of 2007, this bridge is fenced off and unused.
^ abcdeKnoblock, Glenn A. (25 January 2012). Historic Iron and Steel Bridges in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 178–179. ISBN9780786448432.