Covered Bridge Restoration and Relocation

2011 - Blair Covered Bridge, Campton NH ( Hurricane Irene Storm Damage )

Built in 1869 it is a Howe truss design at 300’ long During the flooding caused by tropical storm Irene, the side of the bridge was impaled by a large pine tree floating down the river causing structural damage.

The first bridge at this location was built in 1829 at a cost of $1,000. That bridge was burned down. The construction of the current bridge was brought about when a doctor trying to ford the river on horseback found the current too strong. The horse drowned, but the doctor was saved. The town voted to build a bridge immediately. A sign was posted on the bridge indicating there was a fine of five dollars for riding or driving on the bridge faster than five miles per hour. It was rebuilt by Milton Graton and his son Arnold in 1977 at a cost of $59,379. The town of Campton and the state shared the cost of the repair. The Blair Bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. (http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p77.html)

2008 - 2009 Bump Covered Bridge ( Queen Post )

The bridge itself is 68'4" long with a clear span of 61'6". The overall ridge length, including the ramps, is 83"10". It has an overall width of 16'9" with a roadway width of 13'4" and a maximum vertical clearance of 11'4". The bridge is posted for three tons, passenger cars only.

The Bump Bridge was constructed in a manner replicating the traditional style of covered bridges. The Bump Bridge has not reached the 50 year National Register of Historic Places age criteria.

2008 - Relocation of the Whittier Covered Bridge

The bridge is 132'7" long, Paddleford truss with added arches, with a clear span of 114'0". It has an overall width of 20'6" with a roadway width of 14'10", and has a maximum vertical clearance of 12'6". The bridge is closed to vehicular traffic.

Town records indicate there was a crude open timber bridge at this site in 1791 which was repaired in 1803, 1811, and again in 1820. A new bridge was built in 1820 by Wentworth Lord at a cost of $133. The builders of the 1820 bridge used sound lumber from the old bridge. It was again rebuilt in 1832. In 1849, John Brown built a new bridge at the same location for $234. Most sources credit the construction of the current bridge, built during the 1870s, to Jacob Berry. Steel telltales were erected in 1958 to protect the upper bracing of the bridge and removed in 1983 after the restoration.

2007 and 1997 - Jay Covered Bridge, Jay, NY

This historical bridge built in 1851 is a Howe Truss with a span of 175 feet. It originally carried County Road 22 across the Ausable River, In June 1997 3G Construction moved the covered bridge off the river utilizing cranes and set it up for restoration. A rehabilitation of the bridge was completed in 2007 including major jacking and timber joinery repair and replacement. Then 3G Construction relocated the bridge back over the river utilizing self propelled hydraulic dollies and rollers.

2004-2005 - Burkeville Covered Bridge, Conway, MA

On Route 116 in Conway, Massachusetts, the Burkeville or Conway Covered Bridge stands, built around 1870 and is reported by one source as being the oldest surviving covered bridge in the US. Crossing the South River, it has the unique distinction of utilizing iron tension members into traditional timber truss work. 3G Construction stabilized and raised the elevation of the entire bridge. Also, replaced major timber truss members, installated a new floor system and a new cedar shingle roof. This bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Franklin County is home to about half of Massachusetts’ surviving covered bridges.

2000 - Smith Covered Bridge, Plymouth, NH

The original Smith Bridge was built in 1825 but was washed away by flood waters in 1850, and Harmon Macy of Littleton built a new bridge on this site. Then, major repairs were done in both 1938 and 1950. In 1957, Smith Bridge was again completely rebuilt. 1991 saw the closing of the bridge to traffic, after an engineering evaluation judged it too unstable for daily use. By April 16, 1993, efforts to raise funds to rebuild the bridge were unsuccessful, and it was completely destroyed by an arson fire. On July 23, 1993, at the continuation of a town meeting, voters approved asking DOT for another covered wooden bridge. 3G Construction started building the new bridge in 1999. June 8, 2001 the new Smith Millennium bridge was dedicated and opened to public transportation across the Baker River. It is the first HS20 rated authentic all timber covered bridge of its size (168’ single span, 2 lanes (Long Truss Arch design), side trusses are 26’ tall x 168’ long, 250,000 board feet of timber)

1997 - Coombs Covered Bridge, Winchester, NH

The bridge was named after its original builder and owner, Anthony Coombs. Extensive repairs were made by the town in 1964 and the bridge was reopened the same year. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1971. In 1984, state officials recommended bypassing the bridge using existing town roads. In 1997 3G Construction restored the 118’, single span, Town Lattice design bridge by jacking, shoring, timber rehab and abutment work. The Coombs Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Restoration of Union Village Covered Bridge, Thetford, VT

The Union Village Covered Bridge consists of a single span supported by two flanking timber multiple kingpost trusses. A diagonal stiffening brace extends the length of each truss, rising from the floor at each portal to the top of the center kingpost. 3G Construction jacked, shored, realigned, and replaced necessary structural members on the 119' bridge. The Union Village Covered Bridge is the longest bridge supported by timber multiple kingpost trusses to survive in Vermont. The bridge, which crosses the Ompompanoosuc River at the village of its name, is one of two covered wood bridges remaining in the town of Thetford.

3G Construction has also been involved in fire suppression including installing sprinkler systems and fire retardant paint of other covered bridges in NH. And the inspection, appraisal and maintenance of covered bridges in NH and VT.

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