Corner Bridge

After the Great Bridge washed out at the Fordway in 1699, Billerica was generally content to not replace it. Since it was the only crossing of the Concord River that was convenient for Chelmsford residents to reach Boston, they sued to have it rebuilt. Billerica compromised by building the Corner Bridge, which provided a much more convenient crossing for its own residents. A robust neighborhood grew up on the east side of the bridge, called The Corner. In 1873, the wooden bridge was replaced with iron, which gradually turned rust-colored, earning it the name "The Red Bridge". In the 1930s, 3A was straightened, so a new bridge was constructed to run north-south instead of east-west. In 1942, the iron bridge was demolished as part of a war salvage project. The main stone support for the old bridge can still be seen in the middle of the river.