Columbia Covered Bridge - North Stratford, New Hampshire and Lemington, Vermont

The Columbia Covered Bridge is the northernmost of the covered bridges that cross the border between the states of New Hampshire and Vermont. Connecting North Stratford, New Hampshire with Lemington, Vermont over the Connecticut River, this 146 foot long Howe truss designed covered bridge is just four miles south of Colebrook, New Hampshire. The Howe truss design was introduced around 1840 with its combination of wood and iron structural members, represents the transition in construction from wood to iron bridges. The bridge can handle one lane of traffic at a time, as it is only a little over 14 feet wide.

The Columbia Covered Bridge was built in 1912 to replace an earlier bridge that had been destroyed by a fire the previous year. The current covered bridge was built by Charles Babbitt. The bridge was rehabilitated by the State of New Hampshire in 1981 at a cost of $143,000. The Columbia Covered Bridge and the Mount Orne Covered Bridge in Lancaster, New Hampshire are the only highway bridges remaining in the State of New Hampshire which are supported by Howe trusses. Both bridges were completed in successive years (1911-1912) are are also the last covered bridges built on public highways during the historic period of covered bridge construction in New Hampshire and Vermont.

I've visited the Columbia Covered Bridge on more than one occasion. It is in a quiet corner of New England, leaving plenty of time with little distraction to observe and peacefully enjoy the surroundings of the covered bridge. There is also boating and fishing access for the Connecticut River adjacent to the bridge.

East bridge portal on the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River.

Now on the Vermont side of the covered bridge. The state line is actually on the west side of the Connecticut River, so most of the bridge is in New Hampshire.

West bridge portal. The Columbia Covered Bridge is easily accessible from VT 102. US 3 isn't that far on the other side of the river, either.

The Columbia Covered Bridge on a glorious summer afternoon.

The Connecticut River sure looks inviting here.

Inside the covered bridge.

Columbia Bridge sign.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Bridgehunter.com - Columbia Covered Bridge 45-05-02 / 29-04-07
New Hampshire Covered Bridges - Columbia Bridge
Northern Gateway Regional Chamber - Bridges of Coos County

Comments

Legend of the Ridge Route; a history of crossing the mountains between the Los Angeles Basin and San Joaquin Valley from wagon trails to Interstates

Over the past two decades I've crossed the Interstate 5 corridor from Los Angeles north over the Sierra Pelona Mountains and Tehachapi Range to San Joaquin Valley what seems to be an immeasurable number of times. While Interstate 5 from Castaic Junction to Grapevine via Tejon Pass today is known to most as "The Grapevine" it occupies a corridor which has been traversed by numerous historic highways. The most notable of these highways is known as the "Ridge Route." This article is dedicated to the Ridge Route and the various highways that preceded it. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page Ridge Route corridor introdution The Ridge Route as originally envisioned was a segment of highway which was completed in 1915 between the northern Los Angeles city limit

Establishing the numbering conventions of California's chargeable Interstates

The Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 brought the Interstate Highway System into existence which would largely be constructed by Federal Highway Administration fund matching. The Interstate Highway System was deliberately numbered to run opposite the established conventions of the US Route System. While the Interstate Highway numbering conventions are now well established there was a period during the late 1950s where they were still being finalized. This blog examines the history of the establishing of the chargeable Interstate Highway route numbers in California. The above blog cover depicts the Interstate Highway route numbers requested by the Division of Highways in the Los Angeles area during November 1957. The establishment of the numbering conventions of California's chargeable Interstates The Interstate Highway System was not created in a vacuum by way of the passage of the 1956 Federal Highway Aid Act. The beginning of the Interstate Highway System can be found in the

California State Route 210 (legacy of California State Route 30)

California State Route 210 is a forty-mile-long limited access State Highway located in Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. California State Route 210 exists as a non-Interstate continuation of Interstate 210 and the Foothill Freeway between California State Route 57 in San Dimas east to Interstate 10 Redlands. California State Route 210 was previously designated as California State Route 30 until the passage of 1998 Assembly Bill 2388, Chapter 221. Since 2009 the entirety of what was California State Route 30 has been signed as California State Route 210 upon the completion of the Foothill Freeway extension. Below westbound California State Route 210 can be seen crossing the Santa Ana River as the blog cover. California State Route 30 can be seen for the last time on the 2005 Caltrans Map below. Part 1; the evolution of California State Route 30 into California State Route 210 What was to become California State Route 30 (CA 30) entered the State Highway System duri

Gribblenation

Search This Blog