Williams River Route 5 Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Williams River Route 5 Bridge
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View of the trusses below the bridge deck
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location |  US 5 over the Williams River, Rockingham, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architectural style | Warren deck truss bridge |
| MPS | Metal Truss, Masonry, and Concrete Bridges in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001603 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1991 |
The Williams River Route 5 Bridge is a special bridge in Rockingham, Vermont. It carries U.S. Route 5 over the Williams River. This bridge was built in 1929 and fixed up in 1971-72. It's one of only a few bridges of its kind in Vermont. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Contents
About the Bridge
This section tells you where the bridge is and what it looks like.
Where is the Bridge?
The Williams River Bridge is in eastern Rockingham. It's located close to where the Williams River flows into the bigger Connecticut River.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The bridge is about 250 feet (about 76 meters) long. The main part of the bridge is called a Warren deck truss. This means the strong metal framework, or "truss," is under the road. The road itself sits on top of this strong structure. The bridge is built with concrete and steel beams. It has a concrete road bed where cars drive.
Bridge History
Learn about why and when this important bridge was built.
Why Was This Bridge Built?
The Williams River Bridge was built in 1929. This was a very important time for Vermont. In 1927, a huge flood hit the state and destroyed many bridges. The Williams River Bridge was one of many new bridges built to help Vermont recover from this disaster.
Why is This Bridge Special?
This bridge is special because it's one of only four "Warren deck truss" bridges built in Vermont around that time. These types of bridges were usually used for the longest crossings. They were also used where there was enough space underneath for the truss structure. Before Interstate 91 was built, U.S. Route 5 was a very important road for travel in Vermont. This bridge helped people get around on that major road. The state of Vermont liked this design so much that they still use similar truss types for new bridges today!
