Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge, #20

View of the bridge from Vermont side.

Location: West of N.H. Route 12A, five miles south of Plainfield Village on Cornish Toll Bridge Road. This bridge spans the Connecticut River connecting the towns of Cornish N.H. and Windsor, Vt.
Style of Bridge: Town lattice truss
Year of Construction: 1866
Original Cost: $9,000
Structural Characteristics: The bridge is 449'5" long and consists of two spans of 204'0" and 203'0". It has an overall width of 24'0"., a roadway width of 19'6", and a maximum vertical clearance of 12'9". It is posted for ten tons.
Maintained By: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
World Guide Number: 29-10-09
New Hampshire Number: 20

View of icy Connecticut River looking north from Vermont side.

Historical Remarks:

There were three bridges previously built on this site in 1796, 1824 and 1828. The first bridges were destroyed by floods. The current bridge was built by James Tasker and Bela Fletcher. It was framed on a nearby meadow northwest of the site and later moved to its proper location. In 1935, the New Hampshire General Court authorized funds to purchase the bridge. The structure was purchased by the state in 1936 and operated it as a toll bridge until June 1, 1943. After renovation by the state in 1954, the Cornish Windsor Bridge suffered damage from flood water and ice in 1977. It was repaired again by the state for $25,000. Because of its deteriorated condition, it was closed to traffic on July 2, 1987. The bridge was reconstructed by the state in 1989 at a cost of $4,450,000 and was opened to traffic on December 8, 1989. This is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. The American Society of Civil Engineers designated it as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1970. The bridge is featured on the Town Bicentennial Medal struck in 1976. The Cornish-Windsor Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

source: www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p39.html

National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge

Looking north up the Connecticut River

Hon. Robert J. Harris
In recognition of his dedication to the people and history of the communities this bridge connects.
Vermont State Representative 1976-1997
Windsor Town Moderator, Windsor Selectman

"Walk your horses or pay two dollar fine."

CORNISH-WINDSOR BRIDGE

Built in 1866 at a cost of $9,000, this is the longest wooden bridge in the United States and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. The fourth bridge at this site, the 460-foot (140 m) structure was built by Bela J. Fletcher (1811-1877) of Claremont and James F. Tasker (1826-1903) of Cornish, using a lattice truss patented by architect Ithiel Town in 1820and 1835. Built as a toll bridge by a private corporation, the span was purchased by the state of New Hampshire in 1936 and made toll-free in 1943.

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