Lyndon Residents Invited To Share Thoughts On Historic Chamberlin Bridge

Paul Hayes phayes@littletonrecord.com Staff Writer Apr 16, 2025 Updated Apr 17, 2025

 

 

LYNDON — Residents are invited to a May 5 Local Concerns Meeting to discuss the future of the Chamberlin Covered Bridge.

The meeting’s purpose is to discuss the historic bridge’s existing condition and what options might be pursued for its renovation and improvement.

The meeting hosted by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building Conference Room, 119 Park Ave. A Zoom option will be available for those who prefer to participate from home.

The Chamberlin Covered Bridge, dating back to around 1881, connects York Street and South Wheelock Road. Although the mill it was named after is gone, the bridge still plays an important role in the community.

According to VTrans, the Local Concerns Meeting is not a forum for presenting proposals but a chance to hear people’s thoughts and concerns. Community feedback will be considered in the development project alternatives.

“The function of this meeting is not just to gather information and answer questions, but to also foster a working relationship with the local community,” VTrans said. “This is accomplished by listening to their concerns and ideas and making every attempt to incorporate them into the analysis of solution alternatives if they are sound and cost-effective.”

If residents can’t attend in person or online, they can still submit written comments for two weeks after the meeting.

The meeting is meant to gather stakeholders’ feedback: municipal officials, regulatory agencies, special interest groups, abutters, and local residents and businesses.

After hearing concerns, project managers will consider including community feedback in the design process. Once alternatives are developed, one option will be selected at a later presentation meeting for the next phase.

The Chamberlin Bridge, also known as the Chamberlain Mill Bridge, is a 66-foot-long covered bridge that crosses the South Wheelock Branch of the Passumpsic River. With its narrow wooden floors and half-walls, it still gets daily use today, even though the mill it was named for is long gone, although its foundation remains.

While its exact age is unknown, a newspaper report in August 1881 mentioned work was underway to convert the existing span into a covered bridge.

Today, it’s one of five town-owned covered bridges in Lyndon, along with Miller’s Run, Randall, Schoolhouse, and Sanborn covered bridges.