Silk Road Covered Bridge
Bennington, VT
WGN Number: 45-02-04
Photo by Joe Nelson © 1997
There has been a bridge on the site of the present-day Silk Road Bridge since the 1790's, if not earlier. Over the years the bridge has also been called the Locust Grove Bridge and the Robinson Bridge.
The Covered Spans of Yesteryear website provides the following historical notes:
"Extensive repairs were made to the bridge in 1952. Then circa 1985 a new floor of nail-laminated 2 by 8 inch planks was installed."
"It was restored in 1991 by Gilbert Newbury at a cost of $100,000.00, replacing some roof boards, installing new cedar shingles on the roof that replaced the previous wood shingles, and repairing the truss lattice members and the chords."
"Additional repairs were made in 1993 to the roof members, new guardrails installed at the portals, and new signage at a cost of $16,000.00. Concrete forms one abutment and the other abutment is dry stone capped with concrete."
"The Silk and Silk Road names come from local residents and not from any silk manufacturing."
Silk Road Covered Bridge Vital Statistics
| Town: | Bennington |
| Location: | Silk Road |
| Crossing: | Walloomsac River |
| Date: | c. 1840 |
| Builder: | Benjamin Sears |
| Truss Type: | Town lattice |
| Truss Length: | 88 feet |
| Other Names: | Locus Grove / Robinson Ranch |
| National Register of Historical Places Listing Date: | August 28, 1973 |
| Date Restored: | 1991 |
| Restoration Contractor: | Gilbert Newbury |
Credits: All pictures, information and descriptions are taken from Spanning Time Vermont's Covered Bridges by Joseph C. Nelson ©1997 and the World Guide to Covered Bridges - 2009 unless otherwise specified.
