Show covered bridge era passing requirements of modern transportation doom picturesque old structures so lonn long landmarks in vermont many date from revolution well in the foreground of the rugged scenic beauty of vermont aie the covered bridges which lend many roadways orr turbulent streams and link the green mountain past with modern transportation thousands of motorists who have passed through the state stale will remember 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 d itans dating hack back to days of the revolutionary war previous to there were tie oe tween BOP and GOO bridges of the covered type in vermont the hood flood of that war rear however destroyed more than half of them today there are only 20 remaining approximately fifty have been replaced with modern structures times during the last ltv sl years yeam the rhe vermont department of high ways being aware not only of the picturesque appeal of these ancient structures hut but of the sentiment at cached to them has hag shaped a policy to retain as many as practical from an engineering standpoint Ilow increasing volumes vol unies of travel and mounting traffic speed peed have necessitated esst the removal of some of f thes spans especially those on mainline main maln line highways almost all of the cocked bridges have exceptionally strong tris pisses ses amt the floor systems are usually too weak weak for heavy motor traffic tr it has been reported in statewide surveys often times new floor systems mat ma be installed without great expends ture it has been found but bul the chief locations of serious disintegration are at the ends of the structures where wood supports have been in contact conflict with earth in a number of cases it has been discovered that disintegration tins hns progressed to such nn an extent that the bridges must be rebuilt these structures are of course very old and ns AS time goes on more und and more of them will become unsound the fini reison reason stressed for the replacing with modern apen Is the guarding of traffic safety the old bridges were built during durau thries when traffic was light and slow in almost every instance they were constructed at right angles to HIP streams which chev crossed with the result that dainge dangerous rous sharp angle turns existed at each end of the structures this er cr with the fact they were narrow and low arched made many unfit to meet the requirements of modern travel ride pride in these covered bridges tins has become jeep deep rooted in the state how ever ano when safety requirements are fulfilled the spans are not re placed unless the expense connects connect 0 3 with necessary repairs or maintenance becomes prohibitive or loca tion or design cause tra traffic m c hazards which cannot be remedied an important move toward the preservation of the bridges was made by the vermont legislative le Isla tIve ns assembly tills ibis sear when a law was waa enacted enact el specified that the state might pr two tards the cost of amainte nonce nance on state aid roads although there Is distinctive at tr actIveness to the covered bridges traffic experts now declare that their days are numbered according to unofficial figures motor travel in ID vermont this year has established a new peak and an increasing interest has been evinced by motor throughout the nation to tour the green mountain territory with these j facts act it road have a os seated that in order to meet ever mounting traffic conditions main line covered bridges will have to be re placed in the futile yet there will be ba great many on secondary and town roads which will continue to support traffic and which will be pre sp se bcd as long as possible llo however weer as no covered wooden bridges sire are now being built there will come a day when these types of structures will become extinct ei as far as ver mont is concerned |