COOMBS BRIDGE
Winchester, New Hampshire
- Location:
- West of N.H. Route 10, one-half mile southwest of Westport
Village on Old Westport Road over the Ashuelot River in the
town of Winchester.
- Style of Bridge:
- Town lattice truss
- Year of Construction:
- 1837
- Original Cost:
- Unknown
- Structural Characteristics:
- The bridge has a length of 106'6" with a clear span of 101'9".
It has an overall width of 17'8" with a roadway width of 14'3",
and a maximum vertical clearance of 11'0". The abutments are
unmortared stone. The bridge is posted for six tons.
- Maintained By:
- Town of Winchester
- World Guide Number:
- 29-03-03
- New Hampshire Number:
- 2
-
- Historical Remarks:
-
The bridge was named after its original builder and owner,
Anthony Coombs. The Coombs Bridge once played an
important role in both the social and commercial development
of the area. Although it is not a necessary transportation
link today, it is still convenient to students and tourists
near N.H. Route 10. Extensive repairs were made by the
town in 1964 and the bridge was reopened the same year.
The bridge was rehabilitated in 1971 at a cost of $13,340.
Today, the bridge is in need of major repairs. In 1984, state
officials recommended bypassing the bridge using existing
town roads. Such a bypass would require significant
improvements to local gravel roads in both Winchester and
Swanzey and would result in a considerable detour for
residents of this section of both communities. The Coombs
Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Table of Contents
New Hampshire Bridges
New Hampshire Covered Bridges
Compiled and edited by
Richard G. Marshall
Chief System Planning
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Color photographs by Arthur F. Rounds
1994