Ammonoosuc Inn & Restaurant

White Mountain Covered Bridges - Swiftwater Bridge

Swiftwater Bridge, Bath NH

Location : North of N.H. Route 112on Valley Road in Bath over the Wild Ammonoosuc River.
Style of Bridge : Paddleford truss with added aches
Year of Construction : 1849
Original Cost : Unknown
Structural Characteristics : The bridge is 158′ 4″ long with clear spans of 77′ 6″ and 57′ 6″. It has an overall width of 21′ 0″. a roadway width of 14′ 6″ and a maximum vertical clearance of 12′ 9″. The bridge is posted for six tons.
Maintained By : Town of Bath
World Guide Number : 29-05-02
New Hampshire Number : 29

Historical Remarks:
This bridge is the fourth to cross the Wild Ammonoosuc River at this site. The first was built in 1810. It was
carried away in 1818 by a flood and replaced in the same year. Again, the bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1828. The third bridge was erected in 1829 and remained at the site until 1849. At that time was dismantled and replaced by the current bridge. This bridge was rebuilt by the state in 1977 at a cost of $34,347. The rebuilding costs were shared by the state and town. This section of the river was used to float logs to the sawmill. Often log jams presented a hazard to the bridge. In one case, dynamite was used to break up a log jam and although the blast was successful, logs had to be removed from the roof of the bridge. The Swiftwater Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Travel Guide Notes:
Cross the bridge, and park on the left. A small path brings you to the river just below the falls. If you’ve
planned to a picnic lunch on your Covered Bridge tour, here’s the spot.

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