Wherever they occur, stone bridges invariably offer their own special charm and history. That is certainly true of Fredericton’s stone bridge, which crosses the Nashwaaksis Stream, a tributary of the St. John, at the junction of three thoroughfares: Sunset Drive, Main Street, and the Royal Road.

The stone bridge in Fredericton came into existence in 1939, following the destruction of its predecessor, a covered bridge, by a spring flood triggered by an ice jam on the St. John River three years prior. The predecessor was known as the Thompson Bridge, named after a local lumber mill owner. This moniker has remained attached to the current bridge, at least in formal documents.

The bridge is one among a series of at least eight bridges, boasting stone facades over a concrete core, constructed by the New Brunswick Government between the mid-Great Depression era and the conclusion of the Second World War.

Over the years, the bridge has often acted as a societal hub, a gathering spot for youth. It’s fascinating to ponder the number of romantic relationships that may have blossomed on this stone bridge. In its most recent transformation in the 1990s, a curved walkway was appended to the structure.

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