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South Newfane Bridge
NewfaneVT SouthNewfaneBridge.jpg
South Newfane Bridge is located in Vermont
South Newfane Bridge
Location in Vermont
South Newfane Bridge is located in the United States
South Newfane Bridge
Location in the United States
Location Town Hwy. 26 (Parish Hill Rd.) over the Rock River, Newfane, Vermont
Area less than one acre
Built 1939 (1939)
Architectural style Pratt through-truss bridge
Added to NRHP September 8, 1992

The South Newfane Bridge is a special old bridge in Newfane, Vermont. It carries Parish Hill Road over the Rock River in a small village called South Newfane. This bridge is a type called a Pratt through truss span. It was built in 1939 using strong metal I-beams. The bridge was needed because a big flood had washed away the old one. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

About the South Newfane Bridge

The Rock River is a smaller river that flows east into the West River in southeastern Vermont. The village of South Newfane is located about halfway across the town of Newfane. The South Newfane Bridge goes north and south over the river. It connects Dover Road on the south side to Deer Hill Road, Chapin Road, and Parish Hill Road on the north side.

What Does It Look Like?

The South Newfane Bridge is a single-span metal bridge. It uses a design called a Pratt through truss. A "truss" is a framework of connected beams that supports a structure. In a "through truss" bridge, the roadway goes through the middle of the truss structure.

This bridge is about 149 feet (45 meters) long. The road part is about 13.8 feet (4.2 meters) wide. The space under the top of the bridge, called the portal clearance, is about 15 feet (4.6 meters high). The bridge sits on strong concrete supports called abutments. The main parts of the truss are made from steel I-beams. These I-beams are fastened together with bolts, making the bridge very strong. A wooden road surface is placed on top of the truss system. There are also guard rails bolted to the sides of the trusses to keep people safe.

Why Was It Built?

The South Newfane Bridge was built in 1939. It was needed because a flood had destroyed the bridge that was there before. Building this new bridge was a big project. It received money from local, state, and even federal sources. Some of the money came from the Works Progress Administration. This was a government program during the 1930s that helped put people to work building important things like bridges and roads.

The way this bridge was built showed new ideas in bridge construction. After a very bad flood in Vermont in 1927, engineers learned a lot. Using I-beams for the South Newfane Bridge was a change. These I-beams were cheaper to use than older materials. However, they also made the bridge heavier. This bridge is a great example of how bridge building changed over time.

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