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Washington
County, Vermont
(WGN
45-12-14) (WGCB VT-12-14): (1833;
walkway added c. 1940; restored 1975; re decked 1989; trusses repaired
1992; repaired 2001) A single-span multiple Kingpost with Burr arch
truss 105' over the Mad River. Located: In Waitsfield, Vermont
on Bridge Street. Directions: From jct. SR 17 and SR 100, go
1 mile north to Waitsfield, Vermont where SR 100 intersects Bridge Street
(there is a sign) go east (right) 0.1 mile to the bridge. The bridge
was originally built with a walkway on one side, which was subsequently
removed and then added again on the downstream side sometime in the first
half of 1940. The bridge underwent major restoration in 1975 by Milton
Gratton & Sons which included replacing some floor timbers, the knee
braces with ship knees (right angle wood braces cut from the tree trunk
at a suitable branch or root), replacing some lateral roof braces, installing
a new cedar shake roof, new floor planking and restoring the walkway.
In 1989 the floor was re decked and distribution beams were added under
the deck. In 1992 structural repairs to the trusses were made and
in October and November 2001, eight floor beams, some truss and arch timbers,
some floor planking, and some of the roof beams with associated knee braces
were replaced. The structure is probably Vermont's second oldest
and one of the few with an attached walkway. Dark weathered vertical
boarding covers the upstream side, open under the eves for ventilation,
and the outer side of the walkway to rail height. The portals are
covered with gray blue painted boarding. The floor consists of longitudinal
planking and its roof of black weathered cedar shakes projects beyond the
entrances to provide additional weather protection for the interior.
Also known as the Big Eddy Covered Bridge, the Great Eddy Covered
Bridge, the Old Arch Covered Bridge and the Waitsfield Village
Covered Bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic
Places on September 6, 1974. (Sep 2004) |
