The new Thread City Crossing over the Willimantic River in Windham, Connecticut was designed to serve as a gateway to the town and the historic district. It includes symbols of Windham's history, industry, and local legends.

The bridge has giant concrete spools of thread above each of the bridge abutments. Twelve-foot bronze frogs sit on the spools at each end of the bridge. Once known as "Thread City," Windham was the headquarters of the American Thread Company, once one of the world's leading thread manufacturers. The thread factory, Windham Mills, is in sight of the bridge. Windham also gained renown one night in June of 1754, during the French and Indian War, when the townspeople were awakened by a tremendous noise. Expecting an attack and fearing for their lives, they ran from their homes to hide in the woods. The noise turned out to be bullfrogs fighting for the last drops of water in a dried-up millpond. Descendants of the embarrassed residents later made the bullfrog-on-a-spool the town symbol.

Centerbrook worked with the Maguire Group Connecticut, Inc., the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and the Town of Windham to design the bridge. Leo Jensen of Ivoryton, Connecticut is the sculptor of the frogs.

Photography © Jeff Goldberg/Esto