Gifford Covered Bridge, East Randolph Vermont
- Categories:
- Vermont
- Covered Bridges
- Multiple Kingpost Truss
The Gifford Covered Bridge is one of three covered wood bridges remaining in the town of Randolph. The Gifford Bridge and the nearby Braley Bridge are unique among the covered bridges in Vermont: their multiple kingpost trusses rise only half the height of the side walls in contrast to the full height of that truss type in applications to other bridges. The half-size trusses suggest that the bridges were built originally without roofs and were covered later, possibly during the first decade of the twentieth century.
The covered bridges of Vermont are among its most cherished and symbolic historic resources. About one hundred of the bridges still stand in the state, the highest concentration by area of covered bridges in the country.
Bridge Description
The Gifford Covered Bridge consists of a single span supported by two flanking timber multiple kingpost trusses. The trusses rise only half the height of the side walls; the upper walls are framed in post-and-beam construction with diagonal braces. Iron tie rods extend between the top chords for lateral bracing, and iron rods have also been added to the south truss for supplemental bracing.
Several steel beams have been added to the structure for reinforcement. Two large beams have been laid on the deck, one next to the inner side of each truss. Those beams add support through tie rods attached to smaller steel beams suspended under the timber floor beams to reinforce the latter. The entire structure rests on abutments built of irregular stone slabs laid dry.
The Gifford bridge is 51.5 feet long at floor level. The ends of the side walls flare outward to meet the gable ends, which overhang the floor 4.5 feet at each portal. The bridge is 17 feet wide and has a 14.5-foot roadway. The wood floor, which is 48.5 feet long, consists of planks laid flat and perpendicular to the trusses.
On the exterior, the heavy timbers pegged together to form the trusses (and side walls) of the bridge are sheathed with flush boards hung vertically and painted red. There are no windows or openings in the side walls. The gable ends are also sheathed with flush boards hung vertically and mostly painted red. The portal openings are rectangular except for rounded upper corners. The medium-pitch gable roof is covered with corrugated metal sheeting.
South elevation and east portal (1974)
