General Sullivan Bridge

General Sullivan Bridge, which was built in 1935 and is still standing though closed to traffic. The Little Bay Bridge is often referred to as the "General Sullivan Bridge" as well, because it is at the same location as the older bridge, and because of the eighteen-year period between the completion of the first Little Bay span and the opening of the second, when both the old and new bridges were in use.

The General Sullivan Bridge is a deck truss bridge, with a through truss span to accommodate ship traffic, that formerly carried the roads that now travel over the Little Bay Bridge. Completed in 1935, the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since the opening of the second Little Bay span in 1984.

The bridge was named for John Sullivan, a Revolutionary War General, Governor of New Hampshire, and delegate to the Continental Congress, who was from nearby Somersworth.

Since being closed to vehicular traffic, the General Sullivan has been used by pedestrians and cyclists, as the Little Bay Bridge does not have facilities for foot traffic. The older bridge is also a popular fishing spot. Despite being considered by some to be the second most historic bridge in New Hampshire (after Portsmouth's Memorial Bridge), the future of the General Sullivan is uncertain.

Street map
Satellite Image

General Sullivan Bridge

Photo 68, Oct 2003