Bridge Number VT105-10 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge Number VT105-10
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 105 over Missisquoi River, Sheldon, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1947 |
| Built by | Marston Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Steel girder |
| MPS | Metal Truss, Masonry, and Concrete Bridges in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003224 |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 2007 |
Bridge Number VT105-10 is a special old bridge in Sheldon, Vermont. It helps Vermont Route 105 cross the Missisquoi River. This bridge was built in 1947 and fixed up in 1980. It's the oldest bridge in Vermont with four main sections called "girders." Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Contents
What is Bridge VT105-10?
This bridge is found just west of Sheldon Junction village. It helps Vermont Route 105 cross the Missisquoi River. The road generally runs next to the river here.
How the Bridge is Built
The bridge has four main sections, called spans. These spans rest on strong concrete supports. There are concrete supports at each end, called abutments. Three more concrete supports, called piers, are in the river.
The two middle sections are each about 175 feet (53 m) long. The two end sections are each about 125 feet (38 m) long. This makes the whole bridge just over 600 feet (180 m) long. Strong steel beams, called stringers, hold up the concrete road surface.
A Look Back: The Bridge's History
The current Bridge Number VT105-10 was built in 1947. The state of Vermont wanted to improve older bridges. Many bridges built before World War II needed to be replaced.
Earlier Bridges at This Spot
This is actually the fourth road bridge in this exact spot. The very first bridge was probably made of wood. In 1887, an iron bridge replaced the wooden one. But this iron bridge was washed away in the big Vermont floods of 1927.
After the 1927 flood, another steel girder bridge was built. However, this bridge had problems with ice jams. Ice would build up between it and a nearby railroad bridge. This caused more flooding.
Building the Current Bridge
The Marston Construction Company built the current bridge. They were from Somerville, Massachusetts. When it was finished in 1947, it was the longest steel girder bridge in Vermont. It held that record until 1960.
