Missisquoi River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Missisquoi River Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 45°0′49″N 72°35′16″W / 45.01361°N 72.58778°W |
| Carries |  VT 105A and Chemin de la Vallée Missisquoi |
| Crosses | Missisquoi River |
| Locale | The Canada–United States border between Richford, Vermont and Sutton, Quebec |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Parker through truss bridge |
| History | |
| Opened | 1929 |
The Missisquoi River Bridge is a cool steel bridge that crosses the Missisquoi River. It connects Richford, Vermont in the United States with Sutton, Quebec in Canada. This bridge is right on the Canada–United States border. In Canada, it's also known as Pont de la Vallée.
The bridge helps connect Chemin de la Vallée Missisquoi in Sutton to Vermont Route 105A in Richford. It's located between the border stations where people cross from one country to the other. The state of Vermont built this bridge in 1929. It's one of only two bridges in Vermont built by a company called Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company. Because it's so special, the bridge was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
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What Does the Missisquoi River Bridge Look Like?
The Missisquoi River Bridge is found in the northeast part of Richford and the southeast part of Sutton. It crosses the Missisquoi River, which flows across the international border here. The bridge is a "Parker through truss" design. This means the main parts of the bridge that support it are above the road.
How Big is the Bridge?
The bridge is made of two main sections. One section is about 150 feet (46 meters) long, and the other is about 50 feet (15 meters) long. In total, the bridge is 205 feet (62 meters) long. It's about 21.6 feet (6.6 meters) wide, which is wide enough for two lanes of traffic. The road on the bridge is made of concrete.
How Was the Bridge Built?
The bridge was put together using a method called "riveted construction." This means metal pieces were joined using strong metal pins called rivets. The bridge rests on strong concrete supports at each end and in the middle.
Why Was the Missisquoi River Bridge Built?
The state of Vermont built the Missisquoi River Bridge in 1929. This was part of a big project to build more than 1,200 bridges. Many bridges were needed after a huge flood in 1927 caused a lot of damage. The Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company built this bridge. It shows how the state used standard designs to build bridges quickly back then.
Why Was This Location Important?
This spot on the border was very important for trade and business. It helped industries in Richford get their goods to markets in southern Quebec, Canada. The bridge made it easier for people and products to move between the two countries.
Recent Updates to the Bridge
The bridge was closed for a while to be fixed up and made new again. It was planned to reopen on October 16, 2018.
Crossing the Border at Missisquoi River Bridge
The Missisquoi River Bridge is part of the East Richford–Glen Sutton Border Crossing. This crossing connects the towns of Sutton, Quebec and Richford, Vermont. It's a key point for people traveling between Canada and the United States.
The Border Station
In 1936, the United States built a large building for the border station. This building is still used today by border agents. Like the bridge, this border station building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
