Scott Covered Bridge (Townshend, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Scott Covered Bridge
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1970 photo
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Townshend, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000206 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1973 |
The Scott Covered Bridge is a special kind of bridge found in Townshend, Vermont. It crosses the West River. This bridge was built way back in 1870. It is one of the longest covered bridges in Vermont, measuring about 277 feet (84 meters).
What makes this bridge unique is how it's built. It uses three different types of supports to stay strong. These include a "Town lattice truss," "kingpost trusses," and "laminated arches." The Scott Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's an important historical site.
About the Scott Covered Bridge
The Scott Covered Bridge is located just west of Townshend's main area. It stretches over the West River, near Vermont Route 30. The bridge is made of three main parts. One long part uses a "Town lattice truss" design. This section is about 166 feet (51 meters) long. The other two parts use "kingpost trusses." These two sections together are about 111 feet (34 meters) long.
The "Town lattice truss" part has extra support from "laminated arches." These arches help make the bridge even stronger. The entire bridge is about 20 feet (6 meters) wide. The part where people walk or ride is about 16 feet (5 meters) wide. The sides and ends of the bridge are covered with wooden boards.
History of the Bridge
The Scott Covered Bridge was built in 1870. The town of Townshend first owned it. When it was first built, the "kingpost trusses" were open. But in 1873, they were covered up.
In 1955, the bridge was given to the Vermont Historical Commission. This group helps protect old buildings. Later, in 1973, the bridge was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places across the country.
The bridge has been fixed and made stronger several times.
- In 1915, concrete was added to the bridge's supports.
- In 1961, new support beams were put in.
- In 1981, another concrete support was added.
In 2012, the bridge was closed to people walking on it. This was because inspections showed it had some serious problems.
Recent Repairs and Reopening
Good news came in May 2017! The Scott Covered Bridge was reopened. It is now safe for people to walk and ride bikes across it. A big repair project made this possible. The repairs cost about $2.35 million. The Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation worked together on this project.
