Southern Vermont covered bridges brim with historic charm
Scott Bridge
Route 30 East
Townshend, VT 05359
Location: Take Route 30 east 1.6 miles from the junction with Route 35 in Townshend to the bridge on the south side of the road. The bridge is located between Townshend and West Dummerston.
The Scott Bridge, built by Harrison Chamberlin in 1870, is a three-span structure. One span is town lattice truss with an arch, the next two spans are kingpost trusses with steel rods added for strength. The total length is 276 feet. This bridge carries Back Side Road over the West River. Parking in pulloffs near the bridge. This is a state-owned historic site.
Silk Road / Locust Grove Bridge
Silk Road
Bennington, VT 05201
Location: US7 north 1.2 miles from junction with Route 9 in Bennington; northwest on Route 7A 0.8 miles; continue northwest on Route 67A and west 1.0 miles; south on Silk Road (opposite Bennington College); 0.2 miles to the bridge.
The Silk Bridge, built in 1840, carries Silk Road across the Waloomsac River. This bridge is a short distance from Paper Mill Bridge and the Henry Bridge. Parking in pulloffs on the north side of the bridge.
Victorian Village Bridge
Rockingham, VT 05101
Location: North of exit 6 on I-91, at the intersection of US 5 and Route 103, travel north on Route 103 for 2.5 miles. Bridge is an entrance to Vermont Country Store.
The Victorian Village Bridge is modified kingpost truss. The bridge span is 46 feet. Originally built in 1872, this bridge was dismantled and rebuilt in 1967. Privately owned. Parking at lot at Vermont Country Store.
Williamsville Bridge
Dover Road
Newfane, VT 05345
Location: Off Route 30. Dover Road east 1.7 miles from junction with North Street in East Dover to the bridge. The bridge is east of East Dover in the town of Newfane.
The Williamsville Bridge, built by Eugene F. Wheller in 1870, is a 120-foot-long Town lattice truss. Parking on far side of bridge.
Worralls Bridge
Williams Road
Bartonsville, VT 05143
Location: From Lower Bartonsville Road go south 0.5 miles from Bartonsville; continue south on Route 103 0.4 miles; east on Williams Road; then 0.2 mile to the bridge.
The Worrall Bridge, built in 1868 by the Sanford Granger, carries Williams Road over the Williams River. Town lattice; 86 feet long. Parking on west side of bridge.
Bartonsville Bridge
Lower Bartonsville Road
Bartonsville, VT 05143
Location: Off Route 103 on Lower Bartonsville Road at the south edge of Bartonsville.
The Bartonsville Bridge, built in 1870 by the Sanford Granger, is an impressive 158-foot-long town lattice. This bridge is one of the longest in Vermont. It carries Pleasant Valley Road over the Williams River. Parking on west side of the road.
Bridge at the Green/Arlington Bridge
Covered Bridge Road
Arlington, VT 05250
Location: Northwest of Arlington, Route 313 West 4.2 miles from junction with Route 7A in Arlington (just past West Arlington); south on Covered Bridge Road; then 200 feet to the bridge.
The often-photographed Bridge at the Green, just two miles from the New York State border, was built in 1852 and it carries an unnamed road over the Battenkill River. Town lattice truss; 80 feet long. Parking in lot near fishing hole.
Chiselville Bridge
Sunderland Hill Road
Sunderland, VT 05250
Location: E. off Route 7. Travel east of Arlington, East Arlington Road east (curves north) 1.6 miles; continue north on Sunderland Hill Road; 0.4 miles to the bridge at Chiselville.
The Chiselville Bridge, built in 1870, carries Sunderland Hill Road over Roaring Branch Brook. The covered portion of the bridge is a town lattice truss and there is a center pier at mid span. It is worth the walk to go to the bottom of the ravine and view the bridge from below. Parking in pulloffs on the north side of the bridge.
Creamery / Centerville Bridge
Guilford Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Location: Travel Route 9 west 0.3 miles from junction with I-91 in Brattleboro; south on Guilford Street; and 200 feet to the bridge.
The Creamery Bridge was built in 1879 and a sidewalk and slate roof were added in 1917. Town lattice truss; 80 feet long. Parking in park on south side of bridge.
Dummerston Bridge
West Dummerston Covered Bridge Road
West Dummerston, VT 05357
Location: Route 30 north 0.7 mile from West Dummerston; turn east on West Dummerston Covered Bridge Road. Travel 150 feet to the bridge.
The West Dummerston Bridge, built by Celeb B. Lamson in 1872, carries East-West Road over the West River. Completely restored in 1998. Two-span Town lattice truss. Parking in lot near the bridge.
Green River Bridge
Jacksonville Stage Road
Guilford, VT 05301
Location: 1.4 miles south of junction I-91 exit 1 on US5 to Guilford then right 4.1 miles to Guilford Center and 0.6 miles ahead; then right 2.4 miles on Stage Road; left 0.1 mile to the bridge.
The Green River Bridge, built in 1870, carries Jacksonville Stage Road over the Green River. Town lattice truss; 104 feet long. Parking can be difficult near the bridge.
Hall / Osgood Bridge
Sunderland Hill Road
Rockingham, VT 05101
Location: Route 121 east 1.2 miles from junction with Westminster Street in Saxtons River, north on Sunderland Hill Road 200 feet to the bridge. The bridge is east of Saxtons River.
Hall Bridge, built about 1867, was destroyed by a truck in 1980, and an authentic replacement was built in 1982. Town lattice; 120 feet long.
Henry / Burt Bridge
River Road
Bennington, VT 05201
Location: South-southwest of North Bennington. Travel Route 67A south 1.2 miles from junction with VT67 in North Bennington; west on River Road; 0.5 miles south on River Road; 150 feet to the bridge.
The Henry or Burt Bridge crosses the Waloomsac River in Bennington. This bridge is a short distance from the rebuilt Paper Mill Bridge and the Silk Bridge. It was built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1989. Between those times, the bridge had two sets of town lattice trusses to handle the weight of heavy loads of pig iron drawn by oxen. This made the Henry bridge the strongest covered bridge in Vermont. Town lattice truss; 127 feet long. Parking along Murphy Road.
Kidder Hill Bridge
Bear Hill Road
Grafton, VT 05146
Location: 0.1 miles east of Grafton on Route 121 then right on Bear Hill Road; then 0.2 miles to the bridge. The bridge is located on the south edge of Grafton.
The Kidder Hill Bridge, built in 1870, carries Kidder Hill Road over the South Branch of the Saxton River. Modified kingpost truss with a span of 67 feet. Parking in pulloffs near the bridge.
Paper Mill Village Bridge
Murphy Road
Bennington, VT 05201
Location: US7 north 1.2 miles from junction with Route 9 in Bennington; then northwest on Route 7A 0.8 miles; continue northwest on Route 67A west 1.4 miles; south on Murphy Road; 250 feet to the bridge.
The Paper Mill Bridge, built in 1889, carries Murphy Road across the Waloomsac River. This bridge is a short distance from rebuilt Silk Bridge and the Henry Bridge. Town lattice truss; 125 feet long. Parking in pulloffs on north side of bridge.
Few structures in America combine architectural ingenuity, economic necessity, and romantic idealism better than the covered bridge. Covered bridges flourished in the United States in the 19th century. Vermont, with about 104 of them, has the highest density of bridges. Vermont and New Hampshire share the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States.