SLATE BRIDGE
Swanzey, New Hampshire

Location:

East of N.H.Route 10 on Westport Village Road near Westport Village over the Ashuelot River in Swanzey

Style of Bridge:

Town lattice truss

Year of Construction:

1862

Original Cost:

$1,850.64

Structural Characteristics:

The bridge is 142'3" long with a clear span of 123'3". It has an overall width of 20'9" with a roadway width of 17'1" and a maximum vertical clearance of 11'6". It is reinforced with four iron turnbuckle rods. The bridge is posted for six tons.

Maintained By:

New Hampshire Department of Transportation

World Guide Number:

29-03-06

New Hampshire Number:

4

           

Historical Remarks:

The bridge name originates from the Slate family who lived on a farm along the river north of the bridge. It is the second bridge on this location, the first having been built around 1800. In 1842 William Wheelock was halfway across the earlier bridge with a span of four oxen when the bridge collapsed dropping both driver and animals into the river. Although no one was hurt, Wheelock engaged an attorney from Keene to seek damages from the town. The current bridge was damaged by a snow plow in 1987 and was repaired at a cost of $2,000. The Slate Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On March 8, 1993, the Slate Bridge was destroyed by fire. At the time of publication, the town of Swanzey had expressed the intention to replace the structure with a new covered bridge.

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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