Covered Bridges on Two Wheels

Located about one mile south of the Braley Bridge is the Gifford Covered Bridge. It has also been known as the C.K. Smith Bridge, the Blue Bridge and the Lower Bridge. The first two names presumably come from adjacent landowners. At one time, the bridge was painted blue, yielding the third name. Lower Bridge comes from the fact that it is downstream from the Upper, or Braley, Bridge.

This bridge shares a common trait with its neighbor to the north as it used to be an uncovered pony truss bridge. Originally built in 1883, the bridge was covered in 1904 (about the same time as the Braley Bridge). Unlike the Braley Bridge though, when it was covered, additional multiple kingpost trusses were added on top of the multiple kingpost trusses that already existed.

Sometime prior to 1955, steel beams were installed in the bridge to support the trusses. They were tied to smaller beams underneath the bridge. In 2001 repairs were carried out during which time the abutments were capped with concrete and at the same time raising the height of the bridge for better clearance.

​

In 2011, Wright Construction of Mount Holly, Vermont performed a restoration on the bridge including replacing the steel beams with slightly more aesthetically pleasing glu-lam wooden beams. As seen in the interior photo above, there are two glu-lam beams on each side of the bridge, between which a metal rod descends. New floor beams are suspended from these rods. The floor beams were also extended out to help support the trusses as well. While the river prevents you from getting completely underneath the bridge, you can get under there enough to see how this design works. The glu-lam beams are taking the load of both the traffic and the covering.

Prior to this restoration, the State had recommended bypassing the bridge due to the heavy truck traffic it receives. This probably wasn't necessary anyway since the river at this point is very shallow and over-sized vehicles have simply been fording the river next to the bridge.

Visiting the bridge:

​

The bridge is on a dirt road, as so many of them seem to be, but it is just off Route 14. In fact, if you are coming from the south, you may miss it as the view of it is blocked by trees and a farm. From the north it is easy to spot.

As mentioned previously, there seems to be truck and farm equipment traffic on this road, so be aware. When I visited the first time, it was quiet, but the hillside past the bridge had been freshly cleared of trees. On a subsequent visit, it is quite evident that there continues to be logging activity in the hills and a staging area has been established near the bridge.

​

This activity has created very rough areas where you may be able to park, but they are very soft, and were very muddy on my last visit. Parking a motorcycle here (and turning it around) will be very tricky and will require caution. If at all concerned, you could probably get permission from the owners of the farm at the intersection of Hyde Road and Route 14 to park there and then walk down to the bridge.