Skip to main content

Travel New England: Bissell Covered Bridge


Just off the historic Mohawk Trail along Massachusetts Route 8A in Charlemont is the Bissell Covered Bridge.  A newer covered bridge that was rebuilt in 2007, the long truss bridge is the second covered bridge to cross Mill Brook.  The first covered bridge was built in 1880 and crossed Mill Brook until it was condemned in the 1940s.  Objecting to a modern bridge, the Town of Charlemont fought with the Commonwealth for a replacement covered bridge; and in 1951, a new covered bridge opened.

The now open Bissell Covered Bridge in May 2012.  Part of the old temporary bridge landing has been turned into a viewing area.

In 1995, due to deterioration, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic and a temporary bridge was built next to it.  Yet again, the citizens of Charlemont fought with the Commonwealth on a replacement for the bridge.   The local residents won again; and in 2007, a full rehabilitation project started.  In 2009, the rehabilitated Bissell Covered Bridge reopened to vehicular traffic.  The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

The Bissell Covered Bridge was closed to traffic from 1995 to 2009.  The temporary bridge over Mill Brook can be seen on the right. (February 2005)

Bridge Specs:
  • Number: 21-06-04#2
  • Design: Long Truss Variation
  • Length: 92'
  • Crosses: Mill Brook
  • Built: 1951
All photos taken by post author - February 2005 & May 2012.

Sources & Links:

How To Get There:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80.   This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.  Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range.  The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California.  Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada.  The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926.  Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938.  A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947.   Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association.  Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe.   Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the  September 1950 California Highways & Public Works  during its Centennial Edition.  The or...

Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River.  Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207.   Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road.   The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939.   Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune .  Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903.  The postal name was sourced...