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Cheshire
County, New Hampshire
New Hampshire No.
5 (WGN 29-03-04) (WGCB NH-03-04):
(1832) A two-span Town lattice truss 136' 10" with clear spans
of 64' 0" and 63' 6" over the Ashuelot River. Located: In the
town of West Swanzey, New Hampshire on Main Street. Directions: About
4 miles southwest of Keene, New Hampshire on SR 10 then left 0.3 mile
to the bridge on Main Street in West Swanzey, New Hampshire. The
bridge was constructed by Zadoc Taft and cost $523.27. In 1973, when
it was posted for a six ton load limit, school busses were allowed to cross
the bridge, but only if empty. When a bus full of students came to the
bridge, the students would get off the bus, walk across the bridge, and
re board the bus on the other side. The bridge was closed to vehicular
traffic in the fall of 1990 after a report by state inspectors indicated
the bridge was unsafe. The bridge has since been reopened and we
drove across it on September 24, 2001. The bridge originally had
two sidewalks, but now only has one. It is also known as the Thompson
Covered Bridge. It was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places February 29, 1980. (Sep 2002) |
