west cornwall covered bridge earlier incarnation known hart bridge wooden covered bridge carrying town cornwall connecticut records indicate bridge place location early previous bridge destroyed flood new bridge constructed bridge destroyed current bridge completed circa utilizing central pier previous incarnation despite town able withstand weight single span bridge spans later addition queen supports gives bridge unusual appearance modernization bridge continued let bridge handle traffic added national_register_of_historic_places history located north south east west roadway section riverside town cornwall connecticut numerous bridges built location early bridge service lifespan bridges long term floods ice demolish frequently author states wooden bridges typical life spans seven years town records list expenditures repair placement decades current bridge believed constructed replacement earlier bridge washed away flood date included national_register_of_historic_places nomination claimed supervised possibly incarnations earlier bridges known hart bridge local tradition states traveled massachusetts choose timber bridge bridge overseen current bridge dates according research center pier supports middle bridge likely reused previous bridge added bridge state system considered replacing local committee created organized save covered bridge efforts decided bridge bridge raised additional feet steel supports inserted support roadway roadway reinforced addition concealed steel deck support weight traffic project win award outstanding historic preservation history bridge endured series disasters threatened demolish flooding result new england hurricane flood caused combined effects hurricane threatened wash bridge away severe ice jam threatened destroy bridge jam successfully bridge repaired ton oil truck fell bridge floor description constructed covered bridge feet long feet wide supports lane vehicle traffic connecticut route bridge town constructed red spruce secured span native oak secondary queen post added bridge later date source stating addition queen post likely bridge wooden tendency prior bridge square port flat modified roof remains today bridge painted red time bridge consists spans feet feet feet gap combined portions bridge feet long bridge town unusual design choice later addition queen unusual resulting unique visual appearance bridge unequal spans gives appearance addition steel beam supported state connecticut lists bridge inspection bridge found deck superstructure conditions satisfactory condition fair bridge obsolete significance covered bridge significant important surviving covered bridges state connecticut bridge modification original town represents unique design repeated bridge covered bridge best known featured new_england villages assert passed bridge way inspired movement places new_england bridge appeared opening scenes movie valley dolls american drama film based novel brief scene occurs near minute mark film opening credits bridge listed national_register_of_historic_places numerous photos including photos 20th century renovations contained connecticut rhode_island covered bridges
West Cornwall Covered Bridge