Bridges Cost
More These Days
By Bob Eddy

The new bridge being constructed in Randolph village is at least the fourth in that location. Here, resident engineer Tom Chase shows that evidence of all previous crossings still remains. The dry-ston wall is actually a portion of the stone abutment that held the first covered bridge. Above and around it is concrete from the bridget that replaced it in 1925, while behind Chase is the 1928 span. (Herald / Bob Eddy)

Tom Chase, the VTrans resident engineer for the new bridge in Randolph, doesn’t have a very long commute to work these days. A graduate of RUHS and VTC’s civil technology program, he started working with the Vermont Transportation Agency in 1985. He now lives in Braintree, about four miles from the span that is being built over the Third Branch—the fourth bridge at that site.

The first bridge across the Third Branch at this location was a covered affair, constructed in 1867. Automobiles and trucks spelled the demise of this venerated span. It was replaced in 1924-25 for $44,000 with a concrete bridge by George Stebbins of North Adams., Mass.

Examination of the northern terminus of the current bridge reveals stonework of the first, 1867 bridge, still in place after 140 years. Rather than remove the massive dry-stone abutment, Stebbins simply built forms and encased it in concrete laced with rebar.

The 1925 bridge hung about 18 feet above the river. This was not nearly enough elevation when, in 1927, the great flood surged. The ’25 span was swept away but, as it turns out, not entirely away. Tom Chase showed The Herald this week that the first 20 feet of deck and rail on the north side are of 1925 construction. This is the portion of that bridge directly above the massive north side stone and concrete abutment, which did not fail.

The urn-shaped balusters and large concrete rail were also a part of the 1925 design. When J.E. Cashman of Burlington built a bridge over the much-enlarged riverway in 1928, he simply incorporated these design elements into the new concrete span. Though the new bridge was much longer than the old, reusing the north abutment and decking saved Randolph a lot of money. The second bridge came in at $48,154.

Though pock-marked and scarred, the 1928 bridge has served the community faithfully for nearly 80 years. At one point, in the late 1970s, the balusters were given new life when area resident Kristi Haupt, then a student at Rhode Island School of Design, built a form and cast replacements as a summer project. Now, even Haupt’s replacements look tired. Despite these and other blemishes, however, the bridge has remained basically sound to this day, engineers say.

The current bridge is going to cost a darn sight more than the 48K of the last span. Winterset Construction of Lyndonville was the successful bidder on the entire project, including the temporary and permanent spans. Though they hope to be finished earlier, they are contractually obligated to be completed by November 14, 2008.

The cost of this new span is set by contract at $4,542,909.96. Keeping an eye on the 161 enumerated items on the checklist for the entire project is Tom Chase.

Chase, who grew up with the 1928 bridge in his hometown, has a keen sense of the history that precedes this current work. He, and Winterset, are determined that their new bridge will be even better than the ones that stood before it.

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