Stark Covered Bridge

Stark, New Hampshire

DuBois & King was selected by the Town of Stark to provide professional engineering services to conduct investigations, make recommendations for repairs/rehabilitation, prepare cost estimates, and assist with the preparation of a National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program grant. The bridge is a 134-ft-long, two-span structure constructed in 1857 that spans over the Upper Ammonoosuc River. The bridge is 29.5 ft wide overall, with enclosed sidewalks on the upstream and downstream sides. The bridge was constructed with Paddleford trusses spaced 18 ft apart for a one lane bridge. Recommendations included:

Repair leaking wood shake roof
Install additional roof rafters to support snow load
Repair checking and splits in timber truss members (10 locations)
Replace decayed and/or broken truss verticals
Install missing thrust blocks and spacer blocks at truss panel points
Remove rack, sag (deflection), and out of plumb trusses
Replace worn and rutted deck planks
Replace decayed timber deck stringers and sidewalk stringers
Repair portal siding (clapboards) and bridge siding
Reconstruct concrete bridge seat at abutments and pier
Repair/repoint north and south abutments stone masonry

Completed a report to include the above recommendations. Prepared grant application. Town submitted grant application and was awarded a grant for $904,000.