|
Middlesex
County, Massachusetts
(WGN 21-09-01
#2) (WGCB MA-09-01 #2): (1963) A single-span Pratt truss
108' crossing the Nashua River. Located: In Pepperell, Massachusetts. Directions: Travel US 3 north to exit 35 (SR 113). Take this Route west to Pepperell, Massachusetts. On entering the town, continue on SR 113 past the Police Station (on the right) to the end of the street. Bear right and continue several hundred feet until it takes a left. At this point leave SR 113 and continue straight ahead on Groton Street to the bridge immediately ahead.
This is the second covered bridge at this site. A historical note tells of repairs made in 1753 to the original uncovered 1742 bridge located near "Jo Blood's Fordway," where the present bridge is located. In 1818, the bridge, known as the Nehemiah Jewett's Bridge, was rebuilt as a covered structure 147' long. In 1920, a five foot sidewalk was added to the west side of the structure along the concrete footings. The bridge survived (with only minor damage) the Town's worst flood on March 19, 1936. In 1936, the lower portion of the bridge was reinforced with steel I-beams to accommodate the increase in weight of the newer automobiles and trucks. It continued to carry traffic until its closing on July 6, 1958. The structure was demolished on January 3, 1963 and replaced with the current steel and wooden replica. The current bridge was built at an approximate cost of $233,000. Douglas fir, treated to withstand rot, was used on the sides and 2 by 6 inch planks on the flooring. Forty tons of steel, 7,000 bolts, and 15,000 spikes were used in the construction of the bridge. According to an article in the Pepperell Free Press a proposed March 2006 date for construction to begin on a new covered bridge, to replace the existing structure, with a completion date in the fall of 2007. The project has an estimated cost of $2.1 million. The proposed new design will have two 12' 1" travel lanes and two 5' 4" sidewalks within the footprint of the existing bridge. Although the existing abutments and alignment will be the same, new piers will be constructed. The vertical height will also be increased to meet Federal Highway Standards. The length of the covered portion will also decrease from 105' to 94'. Also known as the Groton Street Covered Bridge. (Sep 2003) |
