The  challenge  of crossing the river  between the communities of Hudson and Nashua has been a re-occurring  one since the beginning of our town’s history.  The twin span bridge shown in this C 1975 photo, is the result of such a challenge which began in the early 1960’s and extended for a decade or more.   This photo was taken from the Hudson side at Ferry Street.  These spans, constructed at separate times, now provide for traffic between the communities of Hudson and Nashua.  
First to be completed was The Veteran’s Memorial Bridge (northern span).  This span was constructed along side and parallel to the aging concrete Taylor Falls Bridge. Following 15 months of construction this span was opened in September 1970.  Emergency repairs had been necessary to “shore-up” the deteriorating Taylor Falls Bridge; load limits and height restrictions were imposed to postpone its demise. State officials made the decision to permanently close the old bridge once the new span opened in September 1970.  This set the stage for the construction of the southern span shown in this photo.The old bridge was demolished in the spring of 1973 and The Taylor Falls Replacement bridge opened in December 1974.

As necessary as these bridges were, their construction and the access roads required for their use completely eliminated the general business area which had developed at the bridge near Central and Ferry Streets.  Photo from the Historical Society collection.