ROCKINGHAM — Over the years covered bridges have become prominent local landmarks not only in Vermont but throughout America, becoming classic symbols of the 19th century that draw considerable attention from preservationists and historians.
Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the union, with 107 bridges throughout the Green Mountain State. At one time 17 covered highway and railroad bridges stood in Rockingham.
One of the three remaining in town, Worrall Covered Bridge on Williams Road, a lattice–style "truss" bridge that spans the Williams River about a mile north of Vermont Route 103, needs approximately $1 million in repairs.
The 87-foot bridge, designed by Rockingham builder Sanford Granger in 1868, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973.
This particular truss bridge offers unique architectural features, including a wooden ramp that leads up to the northwest entrance.
The single-span structure last saw repair work in 1966, when two tie–bolted short timbers were placed under the floor planks for added reinforcement. Cable sway braces were also strung diagonally under the floor to provide additional lateral support.
Such deferred maintenance is typical of covered bridges in the state.
Despite the role of these historic structures in the state's historical, cultural, educational and economic landscape, and despite the attention these historic structures now garner, cash-strapped towns have often neglected the proper application of preservation standards.
Now, over 40 years later, the National Covered Bridge Preservation Program recently conducted a study of the Worrall Covered Bridge under the direction of engineer Ronald Joy of McFarland-Johnson, Inc, a New England-based engineering firm.
The study calls for replacing the components that show significant deterioration or structural damage, and to safely accommodate a vehicle weight of eight tons, common for a road with such light traffic.
"The design consultant did a detailed analysis of the existing structure and is developing the necessary plans for such a rehabilitation," Vermont Agency of Transportation project manager Warren Tripp said. "Upon completion, the bridge should be in excellent condition and ready to serve the public for many years."
Joy presented the study along with a "covered bridge summary" report to the Selectboard at a recent Rockingham town meeting, describing the needed repairs.
"We did a study of the bridge and offered our recommendations, but it's really up to the state and Agency of Transportation to determine if the project gets funded or not," Joy said. "It would be a shame to see another 20 years go by without anything getting done."
Funding the repairs
Recommended restoration work includes replacing the distribution beams, deteriorating lattice planks, and floor beams, as well as incorporating a new bottom lateral bracing system, portal timbers, and truss end posts. Preservative and retardant systems should be applied to all surfaces of the bridge.
In theory, the Covered Bridge Preservation Program would pay up to 80 percent of the roughly $1 million price tag, with the remaining 20 percent to be covered by the state.
"This bridge received a federal earmark of $500,000 to be used towards the 80 percent federal share of the rehabilitation, with the town of Rockingham placing the bridge under a preservation easement with the state, in which the state will fund the remaining 20 percent," Tripp explained.
"The issue is the availability of the 20 percent state funds, as well as any additional funding beyond the earmark, which then becomes legislative budget issue," he added.
The Agency of Transportation and the project consultants are still working out a more defined scope of the project and its cost to determine if additional funds will be needed.
If the final cost of the bridge exceeds the amount approved by Legislature, the remaining costs could be applied to the following year's budget. This would also not delay the construction schedule, as the state's fiscal year begins and ends in the middle of the summer.
Rockingham Selectboard member Ann DiBernardo, who also lives near the Worrall Bridge, asked if the possibility exists to limit the scope of the project until more funding becomes available.
“This bridge has a lot of old timber and has been carrying modern loads for many years," Joy said. "You can't only do part of this job. It's either all or nothing."