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Addison
County, Vermont
(WGN
45-01-04) (WGCB VT-01-04): (c.
1820; modified c. 1860; renovated 1979-80; walkway added 1990; additional
renovations 1991; renovated 2002) Very rare three-span span,
two-lane double-barreled Burr arch truss (see
below) bridge 199' over Otter Creek. Located: on NW edge
of Middlebury, Vermont on Seymour Street. Directions: From
jct. North US 7 and SR 23 in Middlebury, Vermont, make a left turn at traffic
light Elm Street (there was no road sign indicating it is Elm street but
a sign indicating "police") 0.2 mile until it passes under a railroad bridge
to a T-intersection. Make a right turn onto Seymour Street 0.6 mile
to bridge. Parking is not very good. We went through the bridge
and followed the road to the right to a turn off (gated) for a Central
Vermont Public Service recreation site. Around 1860, the timber
arches were removed and laminated arches with iron rod hangers substituted,
changing it from a Burr arch to a multiple Kingpost with Burr arch covered
bridge. During the 1979-80 renovation, the
arches
were modified and two sets of timber cribs on masonry piers were added
under roadway providing additional support at equal thirds of the bridge.
Then in 1991, additional improvements were made. In 1990, through
a grant provided to the Town of Weybridge, Vermont, an uncovered pedestrian
walkway was added to the span. In
2002 the bridge was again repaired at a cost of $103,000.00. Repairs
included repairing the center truss and replacing part of a lower chord.
Gray weathered vertical boarding covers its sides and portals. It is open
under the eaves for ventilation, and has a black painted standing seam
steel roof that, replaced the previous corrugated metal one. The
bridge is one of only seven two-lane double-barreled
covered bridges in the country. It is one of two in Vermont (see
the Shelburne Museum Covered Bridge (WGN
45-04-06) and the only two-lane, twin
portal, bridge standing in the state of Vermont that still regularly carries
vehicular traffic. It is considered the Oldest Covered Bridge in
Vermont and one of the nations oldest covered bridges. It was originally
owned and operated as a toll bridge by the Waltham Turnpike Company which
was dissolved in 1828. The bridge was named for a wood pulp mill that operated
nearby. Note: As of November 2005, $1,800,000 has been
allocated to rehabilitate the structure. Date construction will begin
and end is unknown. Also known as the
Paper Mill Covered Bridge.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September
10, 1974. (Sep 2004) |
