Show covered bridge era passing requirements of modern transportation doom picturesque old structures so long landmarks in vermont many date from revolution well in tho the foreground of tile the rugged scenic beauty of vermont ate aie the covered bridges which lend lead many roadways over turbulent streams and link the green mountain past with modern transportation thousands of motorists who have passed through the state will remember tile the rumble from floor planks which echoed into the roofed spans as they passed from sunshine into gloom then out again into the sunlight these quaint structures often served as landmarks some dating hack back to days of the revolutionary war previous to 1027 there were between and COO bridges of the covered type in vermont the flood of that rear however destroyed more than half of them theal today there are only remaining approximately fifty have been replaced with modern structures during the last six years the vermont department ot of highways being aware not only of tile the picturesque appeal I 1 of these ancient structures but of the sentiment attached to them has shaped a policy to retain as many as practical from an engineering standpoint however increasing volumes of travel and mounting teafile speed have feces necessitated 41 the removal of some of these spans especially those on mainline main line highways almost all of the covered bridges have exceptionally strong tr trusses hut but the floor systems are usually too weak for heavy motor traffic it has been reported in statewide state wide surveys often times new floor systems may be Ins installed trilled without great expenditure it has haa been found but the chief locations of serious disintegration are at the ends of 0 the structures where wood supports have been in contact with earth in a number of cases it has been discovered that disintegration tins has progressed to such nn an extent that the bridges must bp be rebuilt these structures fire of course very old and as time goes on more and more of them will become unsound the principal reason stressed for the replacing with modern rp apen en structures Is the guarding of tr traffic adfle safety the old bridges were built during times when truffle traffic was light and slow in almost every enstam p they were constructed nt at right angles to the streams which they crossed with the result that dangerous sharp angle turns existed at each end of the structures this er with tile the fact they were narrow and often low tow arched made many to meet the requirements of modern travel pride in these covered bridges has become deep rooted in tile the state h how ow ever ano when safety requirements are fulfilled the spans fire are not replaced unless the expense connected with necessary repairs or maintenance becomes prohibitive or loca tion alon or design cause traffic hazards which cannot be remedied an important move toward the preservation or of the bridges was made by the vermont legislative assembly tills this year when a law was enacted enact eit el which specified that the state might pay two thirds the cost of amainte nance on state aid roads although there Is distinctive attractiveness tr to the covered bridges traffic experts now declare that their days are numbered according to unofficial figures motor travel in vermont this year hns has established a new peak and nn an increasing interest has been evinced by motor throughout ghost the nation to tour the green mountain territory with these facts li t mind road builders have asserted that in order to meet ever mounting troffle condl conditions eions ma mainline main n line covered bridges will have to be replaced in the futile yet there will b be n great many on an secondary and town roads rands which will continue to support traffic and which will be pre se acil as long ns as possible Ilo however wever ns no no covered wooden bridges are now being built there will come a tiny day when these types tapes of structures structure will become as far jig as vermont Is con concerned cerneL |