Bissell Bridge, Covered bridge in Charlemont, Massachusetts.
Bissell Bridge is a covered crossing over Mill Brook in Charlemont with stone-faced reinforced concrete supports. The wooden structure is protected by external walls and a roof, serving as an active traffic connection on Heath Road.
The bridge was built in 1951 by T.J. Harvey Company and replaced an earlier structure from 1881. It became the first covered bridge constructed in Massachusetts during the 20th century.
The bridge shows how New England communities blend old building styles with modern materials while keeping the traditional covered bridge form alive. It remains part of local identity and reflects the region's choice to maintain its infrastructure in a historical style.
The crossing is easily reached via Heath Road, also known as Massachusetts Route 8A, and remains an active traffic route. The surroundings are open for viewing, so visitors can see the structure from above and from the sides.
The structure stands near an old mill dam and pond that once supported local industry. It took its name from Henry W. Bissell, a local resident whose earlier home was just a few hundred feet away.
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