Braley Covered Bridge facts for kids
The Braley Covered Bridge, also called the Johnson Covered Bridge and Upper Blaisdell Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses the Second Branch of the White River in Randolph, Vermont on Braley Covered Bridge Road. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The bridge was built in 1904 as an uncovered kingspost truss bridge, and was covered in 1909.
Quick facts for kids Braley Covered Bridge |
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Braley Covered bridge in the town of Randolph Vermont.
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| Coordinates | 43°55′42″N 72°33′26″W / 43.92833°N 72.55722°W |
| Carries | Automobile |
| Crosses | Second Branch of White River |
| Locale | Randolph, Vermont |
| Official name | The Braley Covered Bridge |
| Maintained by | Town of Randolph |
| ID number | VT-09-04 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, King post |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 40.25 ft (12.3 m) |
| Width | 14.2 ft (4.3 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Load limit | 8 tons |
| Clearance above | 9.5 ft (2.90 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | unknown |
| Construction end | 1904 |
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Braley Covered Bridge
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000236 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1974 |
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About the Braley Covered Bridge
The Braley Covered Bridge is found in a quiet, rural part of eastern Randolph. It sits on Braley Covered Bridge Road. This road is a short street that leads to the Second Branch White River. The bridge is a single-span structure. This means it crosses the river with one main section.
How the Bridge Was Built
The bridge is 39 feet (12 m) long. It rests on stone supports called abutments. These supports were built using dry-laid stones. The bridge is 17 feet (5.2 m) wide. It has one lane for cars, which is about 14 feet (4.3 m) wide.
The bridge has been made stronger over time. Steel I-beams were added underneath the road. These beams help support the bridge deck. The main structure of the bridge is made of posts and beams. It is covered with vertical wooden boards. The entrances, called portals, stick out about 3 feet (0.91 m) from the ends.
A Special Design: The King Post Truss
The Braley Covered Bridge was built in 1904. The builder is not known. This bridge uses a special design called a king post truss. A truss is a framework of beams that supports a structure. A king post truss uses a central vertical post to support the weight.
What makes this bridge unique is that its king post truss only reaches half the height of the bridge. There is only one other covered bridge in Vermont like this. That bridge is the nearby Gifford Covered Bridge. Experts believe the Braley Bridge was first built as a "boxed pony truss" bridge. This means the trusses were likely covered with planks to protect them. You can see an example of this rare type of bridge at BridgeHunter.com.
When the Bridge Got Its Roof
A date of 1909 is carved on one of the bridge's entrances. This likely means the roof and sides were added around that time. This made it a "covered bridge" as we know them today. The steel I-beams that strengthen the bridge were added later, in 1977.
