Gifford Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gifford Covered Bridge |
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| Carries | Automobile |
| Crosses | Second Branch of White River |
| Locale | Randolph, Vermont |
| Maintained by | Town of Randolph |
| ID number | VT-09-03 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, King post |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 54.75 ft (16.69 m) |
| Width | 14.8 ft (4.51 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Load limit | 3 tons |
| Clearance above | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | unknown |
| Construction end | 1904 |
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Area | 1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000240 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The Gifford Covered Bridge, also known as the C.K. Smith Covered Bridge, is a cool old wooden bridge. It crosses the Second Branch of the White River in Randolph, Vermont. You can find it on Hyde Road.
This bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It's special because it was one of only two bridges in Vermont that started out "uncovered." Its main support beams were boxed in for protection. Later, a full roof and sides were added.
Contents
About the Gifford Covered Bridge
The Gifford Covered Bridge is in a quiet, country part of Randolph. It's just a short distance east of Vermont Route 14. The bridge helps Hyde Road cross over the Second Branch White River.
Bridge Design and Size
This bridge uses a special design called a King post truss. It has a single span, meaning it crosses the river in one go. The bridge is about 51.5 feet (15.7 m) long.
The roadway inside the bridge is about 14.5 feet (4.4 m) wide. This means only one car can cross at a time. The total width of the bridge is about 17 feet (5.2 m).
How the Bridge is Built
The bridge sits on strong concrete supports called abutments. It has its own separate roof and side walls, which are built with posts and beams. The ends of the bridge stick out a bit past the main support structure.
The roof is made of metal, and the sides are covered with vertical wooden boards. This design helps protect the bridge from weather.
History of the Gifford Bridge
No one knows exactly when the Gifford Covered Bridge was built. We also don't know who built it. It's one of only two covered bridges in Vermont with a special kind of King-post truss. This truss only goes halfway up the height of the bridge.
This unique design suggests the bridge was probably built without a full cover at first. Its main support beams were likely covered with planks to keep them safe from rain and snow. The full roof and sides you see today were added later, around 1904.
Bridge Upgrades and Repairs
Around 1955, the bridge got some extra strength. Steel I-beams were added above the roadway. These beams are connected to other I-beams below the road. This was a very unusual way to make a covered bridge stronger.
In 2001, the bridge had a lot of repairs. Workers even raised it higher above the river. This was done to help stop floodwaters from reaching the road part of the bridge. Even with these repairs, the bridge still has a low weight limit of 3 tons. This means only light vehicles can cross it. Sometimes, heavier vehicles have to drive through the shallow river next to the bridge.
