Chiselville Covered Bridge

Chiselville Covered Bridge is a wooden structure that spans the Roaring Branch Brook and connects both sides of East Arlington Road. The bridge employs the Towne Lattice Truss design to achieve its 117-foot length.

Daniel Oatman constructed this bridge in 1870 using the innovative Towne Lattice Truss design. Steel reinforcements were added in 1973 after overloaded gravel trucks caused damage to the wooden frame.

A quirky warning sign on the bridge jokingly tells drivers they must pay a dollar if they exceed walking speed while crossing. This playful rule reflects the local care taken to protect the wooden structure from damage.

The bridge sits about 100 feet (30 meters) above the water, creating a notable elevation that visitors will notice while crossing. Slow passage on foot or by vehicle allows time to observe the wooden construction and surrounding landscape.

The interior reveals the distinctive latticed framework that is the hallmark of the Towne design, visible as you pass through. This 19th-century engineering approach created a surprisingly strong structure despite using only wooden materials.

Location: Bennington County

Inception: 1870

GPS coordinates: 43.07217,-73.13320

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:46