Union Village Covered Bridge
Thetford, VT
WGN Number: 45-09-05
Photo by Scott Wagner © 2006
The Union Village Bridge, the state's longest multiple-kingpost span, has been defying gravity for more than 130 years. The truss consists of 16 panels.
According to the Covered Spans of Yesteryear website, the "deck was replaced and distribution beams and steel knee braces were added in the 1970's". They also note that "some of the original dry stone abutment work is still in place."
Sue Scribner, Project Manager of VAOT's Historic Bridge Program, detailed the work to be done during the rehabilitation: "The general project description is: rehabilitation of the existing Union Village Covered Bridge and the addition of new glulam floor support beams on reinforced concrete foundations. Some specifics for member replacement include replacement of a portion of the bottom chord on both the north and south trusses as well as replacement of a few vertical members in each truss. The roof rafters will also need to be replaced. A new glulam deck will be installed on glulam stringers and floor beams. Of special note, a new copper roof will be installed as well as interior lighting."
The bridge rehabilitation was done in 2002 by Alpine Construction of Schuylerville, New York.
Details of the process can be found here: Union Village Covered Bridge VT-09-05 Rehab Revisited and Thetford's Union Village Bridge Open to Traffic.
Click here for a short history of the Union Village Covered Bridge: A Short History of the Union Village Covered Bridge.
Our thanks to the Town of Thetford for allowing the posting of the Vermont Covered Bridge Society Welcome patch. For more information about the Thetford area visit their website at www.thetfordvermont.us.
Union Village Covered Bridge Vital Statistics
| Town: | Thetford |
| Location: | Academy Road |
| Crossing: | Ompompanoosuc River |
| Date: | 1867 |
| Builder: | Unknown |
| Truss Type: | Multiple kingpost variation |
| Truss Length: | 111 feet |
| National Register of Historical Places Listing Date: | September 17, 1974 |
| Date Renovated: | 2002 |
| Renovation Contractor: | Alpine Construction Schuylerville, New York |
Credits: All pictures, information and descriptions are taken from Spanning Time Vermont's Covered Bridges by Joseph C. Nelson ©1997 and the World Guide to Covered Bridges - 2009 unless otherwise specified.
