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Union Village Covered Bridge VT-09-05 Rehab Revisited

August-September, 2002 - N. David Charkes of Fairlee, Vermont visited the work site while Alpine Construction of Stillwater, New York was rehabilitating the 135-year old wooden bridge. David brought his camera and his questions on August 29 and 30, and again on September 6. The following are his photos and his captions.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
General view from the west.
Roadway from the west.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
New timbers, stacked.
New boards. Note destination sticker.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
Bridge from SW side.
Crew preparing winch.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
Attaching sling to timber (3 boards thick).
Slinging timber.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
Moving timber into place.
Pounding trunnels to secure timber.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
Timber in place. Note separation between long timbers over length of bridge and floor joists - timbers will later be pulled up to meet joists to create 13.5" camber over horizontal at center. (Prior to repair, center had fallen 10.5" below horizontal.)
Moving next timber into place.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
Aligning timber by pounding.
View of a vertical bolt through joist. Bolts will be tightened over length of bridge to create camber.
Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002 Union Village Bridge. Photo by N. David Charkes, August, September, 2002
One week later: View from the SW. Note that the long timbers have been drawn up to the roadway joists to create a camber of 13.5" in midspan.
I got the information about the camber from the foreman (Jim Ligon).

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Joe Nelson, P.O Box 267, Jericho, VT 05465-0267
This file posted July 11, 2004