Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge, Covered bridge in Colrain, United States.
Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge is a wooden structure crossing the North River with vertical pine board walls and a gabled slate roof. It carries one lane of traffic and sits on elevated supports designed to keep it above seasonal flooding.
The bridge was built in 1869 and received two large reinforcing arches made of laminated wood in 1920. These additions strengthened the original design to extend its lifespan considerably.
The bridge represents traditional New England engineering methods, incorporating a Burr Truss design with ten braced king posts under tension from segmented timber arches.
The bridge is reached via Lyonsville Road and accommodates vehicles in a single-lane configuration. Visitors should drive slowly and be aware of the limited headroom and clearance.
Following a major restoration in 2007, this is the only remaining Burr truss bridge left in Massachusetts. The design represents a rare example of traditional bridge construction methods that vanished from the state.
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