Winooski River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Winooski River Bridge
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location |  US 2 over the Winooski River, Richmond, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Built by | American Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania through truss |
| MPS | Metal Truss, Masonry, and Concrete Bridges in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000775 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1990 |
The Winooski River Bridge is a really important bridge in Richmond, Vermont. People also call it the Checkered House Bridge. It carries U.S. Route 2 over the Winooski River. This bridge was built in 1929. It's special because it's one of only five "Pennsylvania through truss" bridges in Vermont. It was also the longest bridge built after a huge flood in 1927. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's a special historical landmark.
What Makes This Bridge Special?
The Winooski River Bridge is a type of bridge called a "Pennsylvania through truss." Imagine a giant metal framework that forms the sides of the bridge. This framework helps the bridge hold up heavy loads. The road goes through the middle of this framework.
Bridge Design and Size
This bridge is located in a quiet, more rural part of Richmond. It stretches across the Winooski River. The bridge is about 368 feet (112 meters) long. That's longer than a football field! It is also about 21 feet (6.4 meters) wide.
The top of the bridge has a clearance of about 17 feet (5.2 meters). This means tall trucks can pass under it. The bridge stands about 32 feet (9.8 meters) above the water. It rests on strong concrete supports called abutments. The metal framework has extra supports to make it even stronger for heavy traffic.
Built After a Big Flood
The Winooski River Bridge was built in 1929. This was part of a huge project by the state of Vermont. A massive flood in 1927 had destroyed over 1,200 bridges! The state needed to replace them quickly.
Most new bridges used standard designs. But this bridge was different. It was harder to fit a standard design here. So, the American Bridge Company built a unique bridge for this spot. It became the longest single-span bridge built during this three-year rebuilding effort. Over 1,600 bridges were built in total!
