Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Worrall Bridge
The Worrall Bridge, likely named for nearby landowners, stands across the Williams River, just a short distance downstream from the Bartonsville Bridge. Sources differ on the construction date. One source says this bridge was built to replace one lost in the infamous freshet of 1869 which destroyed many other bridges in the area. Other sources claim that it was built in 1868 and survived the freshet.
One may wonder how this bridge could have survived the 1869 flood when so many others in the area weren't as lucky? Well, in 2011, when Tropical Storm Irene created severe flash flooding in the area, this bridge once again survived, when its big sister just upstream did not.
Current Status: Open
Location: Rockingham, on Williams Road
Crosses: Williams River
GPS: 43.211657N, 72.535500W
Built: 1868 Length: 82.5 feet
Truss Design: Town lattice
WGN*: VT-13-10 NRHP**: Yes
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Amateur video footage of the flooding at that time shows how the WIlliams River spilled over its banks and into low-lying land north of the bridge. This likely helped relieve any stress that could have been placed on the bridge by the high water. However, if not for a sharp bend in the river, the Bartonsville Bridge quite easily could have continued to be carried downstream and into the Worrall Bridge.
What we do know for sure is that in 1936 another flood event washed away a portion of land behind the northern abutment. The abutment survived, and rather than fill the land back in, a wooden ramp strengthened by steel beams was laid across the gap, a situation you won't find anywhere else in Vermont. However, unless the water is running high, this gap is usually dry.
Also unique to this bridge is the lack of secondary chords. Most Town lattice bridges are built with two upper chords and two lower chords. This one has only one each. This has most likely led to the need for supplemental vertical posts at some point in its past.
Visiting the bridge:
Finding the bridge is not difficult, being that it's just a short drive off Route 103. Even though Williams Road starts out as pavement as it crosses over railroad tracks, just after that, it is dirt. The road also is not much more than a one-lane road.
The only place to park is a small turn-off on the north side of the bridge (the direction you will most likely come from).
This is a fairly narrow bridge, with not much room inside for pedestrians, but the road is also not very busy, so traffic should not be of great concern.