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Essex
County, Vermont
(WGN
45-05-d) (WGCB VT-05-d) (2003) A four-span
Howe truss footbridge 242' 1" over railroad tracks. Located in Brighton
Township, Island Pond, Vermont at the railroad depot off Main Street (SR
114). Directions: From southwest of Island Pond, Vermont at
the south jct. of SR 105 and SR 114, go northeast 2.1 miles on SR 105/SR
114 to Island Pond, Vermont to the north jct. of SR 105 and SR 114 (Main
Street). The bridge is directly across from the junction. Construction
of the bridge was started in October 2002 and was completed in September
2003. It replaced an earlier uncovered footbridge built on this site
in 1903 or 1904 that had been taken down in 1973. The upper two sets
of concrete stairs in the current bridge were from this earlier structure.
The original covered footbridge, also called Island Pond Foot Bridge,
was longer and built in 1853 or 1854. It was located about 150 yards
east of the present bridge and was replaced in 1903 or 1904 by the uncovered
bridge. It is the longest authentic covered footbridge in Vermont, and
at 12' 9" wide is the widest covered footbridge in the State. The
bridge consists of three types of construction. First, a long center
span supported by sixteen panel Howe truss set on a mortared cut stone
faced poured concrete abutment at the north end and the tallest of the
three piers on the south end. Second, there are three stringer spans
at the south end of the bridge comprised of a landing and a set of plank
stairs in each span and third, there are two sets of concrete stairs each
with a concrete landing set on the ground at the north end. The flooring
consists of poured concrete on the landings at ground level at the south
portal and two sets of stairs at the north portal, longitudinal planking
for the two upper landings at the south end and the floor in the center
truss section and crosswise planking forms the three sets of steps at the
south end. Natural finished vertical boarding covers the sides and
natural finished horizontal lapped boarding covers the gables. The
roof is covered with green painted steel. Also known as the Brighton
Pedestrian Covered Bridge. (Sep 2007) |
