Burkeville Covered Bridge, Covered bridge in Conway, Massachusetts.
Burkeville Covered Bridge is a wooden structure crossing the South River, built with wooden trusses reinforced by iron vertical supports. The sides are covered with vertical wooden boards that protect the interior framework from weather.
An earlier bridge at this location was destroyed by flooding in 1869 and replaced by the current structure. This rebuilding represented a step forward in how engineers designed and built bridges during that period.
The bridge shows how 19th-century New England builders protected wooden structures from weather damage through complete covering. Walking across, you experience the same building style that was common throughout the region during that era.
This is a one-lane bridge on Main Poland Road where vehicles need to take turns crossing in each direction. Drive slowly and watch for oncoming traffic, as the passage is narrow and requires careful attention.
This bridge uses a modified Howe truss design with multiple iron tension rods instead of the standard wooden supports typical of similar structures. This technical choice makes it stand out to engineers and bridge enthusiasts who study regional construction methods.
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