bridge covered covered railroad bridge facility hampshire new hampshire railroad rehabilitation rehabilitation transportation facility span transportation truss two two span wood

Covered Bridge Contoocook, NH

7 / 9

This bridge, disputably the oldest covered bridge in the United States, was built in 1850 for the Concord and Claremont Railroad, connecting lonely Contoocook with the larger New Hampshire towns such as Concord. A “day of great festivity” was held upon the opening of this bridge, with the rousing sounds of impassioned speeches, lively bands, and cannon thunder. The bridge was partly destroyed by flooding two separate times in the 1930’s, and was eventually used as a warehouse from 1962-1990. In 1990 it was placed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the bridge was fully restored with help from a $119,200 TE grant and local match of $29,800 in 2005.

Bridge Covered Covered Railroad Bridge Facility Hampshire New Hampshire Railroad Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Transportation Facility Span Transportation Truss Two Two Span Wood

The National Transportation Alternatives Clearinghouse provides information on the Transportation Alternatives Program funded by FHWA. To be eligible for TA funds, a project must relate to surface transportation and be one of the 10 TA Activities. For more information about the TA program see trade.railstotrails.org. For our licensing policy see our guidelines.

Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange

@ the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

202-974-5110

2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20037-1213