Covered Bridges of New England

Many of the covered bridges still standing in the United States are in New England. A region of numerous rivers and streams, the covered-bridge design has been a practical feature of roadways since the 19th century. The coverings help bridges to withstand the test of time; more than 800 from that century remain as of 2010, according to New England Vacations Guide.
  1. Cornish-Windsor Bridge

    • The Cornish-Windsor Bridge crosses the Connecticut River. It was originally built in 1866 and is touted as the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States. Measuring 450 feet in length, the bridge has two spans with lattice trusses for support. A pier sits at the bridge's approximate midpoint, with the two clear sides measuring 204.6 and 203.7 feet. The first of three previous bridges at this location was constructed in 1796 for about $9,000; those three were destroyed by flood waters. The bridge was last rebuilt in 1989 for $4.45 million. The Cornish-Windsor Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is between Bridge Street, in the town of Windsor, Vermont, and New Hampshire Route 12A, at Cornish, New Hampshire.

    Henry Bridge

    • The Henry Bridge in Bennington, Vermont, was completely rebuilt in 1989, like the Cornish-Windsor bridge. The Henry Bridge was the site for a confrontation between statehood proponents Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, standing off against a New York sheriff trying to remove the local landowners. As such, the bridge stands as a historical emblem of Vermont history and independence.

    Bement Bridge

    • The Bement Bridge has spanned a western branch of the Warner River since 1854. Col. Stephen H. Long, Hopkington native and a member of the U.S. Army Topographical Engineers, is believed to have built the bridge. While working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, he developed the "long truss" style, used for the Bement Bridge. He patented the design in 1830. The Bradford, New Hampshire, bridge is on Bradford Center Road a quarter-mile north of where New Hampshire Route 103 intersects Route 114.

    Bulls Bridge

    • The Bulls Bridge of Litchfield County, Connecticut, was built in 1842. It crosses the Housatonic River with a single span measuring 109 feet in length. The bridge is just north of the township of Gaylordsville. From U.S. 7 North, 2.6 miles north of the junction with Connecticut State Road 55, travel west 0.1 miles on Bulls Bridge Road.

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