Poland Covered Bridge (Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge)

Poland Covered Bridge (Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge) - Cambridge Junction, Vermont

Also known as the Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge, the Poland Covered Bridge spans over the Lamoille River in Cambridge Junction, Vermont, just east of Jeffersonville. One of 14 historic covered bridges that remain within Lamoille County, the 153 foot long Kingpost with Burr arch truss designed covered bridge was built in 1887 by George Washington Holmes in order to improve access to a nearby railroad junction. The bridge is said to have one of the longest clear spans of its type within the United States. The bridge bears the name of Luke P. Poland, a prominent citizen and judge from Waterville, Vermont during the second half of the nineteenth century, who led a lawsuit against the Town of Cambridge that resulted in the construction of the covered bridge.

The Poland Covered Bridge was restored starting in 2001, undergoing a two stage process to restore the it to working order, using funds that were secured from the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Act, which had been authored by Senator James Jeffords of Vermont. Stage One of restoration involved stabilizing and raising the bridge three feet over the Lamoille River. Then, the purpose of Stage Two was to restore the bridge in order to carry light traffic. The bridge rehabilitation began in 2003 and was completed in 2004 by Alpine Construction of Schuylerville, New York.

The bridge had traditionally been open to pedestrians and snowmobiles during winter, and to motor vehicles after the last snow had fallen for the year, carrying traffic one vehicle at a time. Due to the proximity of the covered bridge to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, the bridge does get some traffic and visitors as a result of being next to the rail trail. I went to check out the bridge on a winter's day and had a nice, quiet experience during my visit.

Looking at the bridge portal. Extra barriers are put in place to prevent cars and trucks from using the bridge in winter.

A frozen Lamoille River.

Lamoille River.

The bridge has a clearance of 11 feet, 6 inches.

Side profile of the covered bridge.

Historical marker showing the bridge's history.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Bridgehunter.com - Poland Bridge 45-08-02
Lamoille Chamber - Lamoille's Covered Bridges
Vermont Covered Bridge Society - Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge
News & Citizen (Stowe, Vermont) - Clashes Over Covered Bridge
Vermont Covered Bridge Society - Poland Covered Bridge Stabilization: 2001

Comments

The 1915-era Teilman Bridge (the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge in California)

The Teilman Bridge is a semi-abandoned structure over Fresno Slough west of Burrell siding near the intersection of Elkhorn Avenue and Elkhorn Grade. This structure is the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge constructed in California and was designed by Ingvart Teilman. Teilman's Bridge would open in late 1915 when the Elkhorn Grade was the primary road between Fresno and Coalinga. The structure would be replaced in 1991 but was left standing as it carries pipelines over Fresno Slough. Part 1; the history of the Teilman Bridge In the early Twentieth Century the most direct highway between Fresno and Coalinga followed the Elkhorn Grade. The Elkhorn Grade began at Fresno Slough a short distance west of Burrell siding. From Fresno Slough the Elkhorn Grade followed a generally southwestern course through San Joaquin Valley into the Kettleman Hills towards Coalinga. The Elkhorn Grade can be seen on the 1914 C.F. Weber map of Fresno Coun...

The Dummy Lights of New York

A relic of the early days of motoring, dummy lights were traffic lights that were placed in the middle of a street intersection. In those early days, traffic shuffled through busy intersections with the help of a police officer who stood on top of a pedestal. As technology improved and electric traffic signals became commonplace, they were also originally positioned on a platform at the center of the intersection. Those traffic signals became known as " dummy lights " and were common until traffic lights were moved onto wires and poles that crossed above the intersection. In New York State, only a handful of these dummy lights exist. The dummy lights are found in the Hudson Valley towns of Beacon and Croton-on-Hudson, plus there is an ongoing tug of war in Canajoharie in the Mohawk Valley, where their dummy light has been knocked down and replaced a few times. The dummy light in Canajoharie is currently...

Prunedale Road (Monterey County)

Prunedale Road is a short 2.6-mile-long frontage corridor of US Route 101 in the namesake Monterey County community of Prunedale. Prior to 1932 US Route 101 bypassed Prunedale in favor of the San Juan Grade to the east. Prunedale Road along with nearby Moro Road served as an alternative connecting highway between Salinas and San Juan Bautista. Following the realignment of US Route 101 onto the Prunedale Cutoff the former through route along Prunedale Road would be rendered as a western frontage. Part 1; the history of Prunedale Road Prunedale Road is located in and is named after the Monterey County community of Prunedale. Said community was founded near the junction of San Migeul Canyon, Langley Canyon and Echo Valley. Watsonville settler Charles Langley (namesake of Langley Canyon) was one of the prominent early community settlers. The Prunedale Post Office would open for the first time in 1894 but would close by 1908. Early agricu...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog