Historic covered bridges are under threat by truck drivers relying on GPS meant for cars

LYNDON, Vt.– One of Vermont’s historic covered bridges is under threat from modern technology.

Truck drivers who rely on GPS continually crash over the 140-year-old Miller’s Run Bridge in Lyndon despite signs, including a flashing one, to deter over-height or over-heavy vehicles from crossing. Drivers could face a $5,000 fine from the city, plus state fines.

Yet the bridge is increasingly damaged.

“GPS is the most common excuse given by motorists who do hit the bridge,” said Lyndon City Manager Justin Smith. He says the real problem is the lack of common sense.

Built in 1878 and renovated in 1995, the bridge is on a shortcut that motorists use to avoid downtown Lyndonville. The community, which has five historic covered bridges, two of which are in use, calls itself the “Covered Bridge Capital of the NEK,” short for the Northeast Kingdom Territory.

Police Chief Jack Harris estimates the Miller’s Run Bridge has been hit 20 times, and at least once or twice in one day. The drivers use GPS programs for cars rather than commercial vehicles, he said. Most of the time the damage is cosmetic, although the bridge twice had to be closed for months for repairs, he said.

In 2019, a van struck the supports and engineering and repair costs were nearly $100,000, Smith said. About half the time, the city recovers insurance money from drivers – if they are caught. Many simply drive away.

“They’ll claim they didn’t know they hit the bridge, but yet you see the truck stop in the middle of the bridge and they look up to see they hit the bridge,” Police Chief Harris said. “I can count on one hand the number who stopped and waited,” Harris said.

Many are inexperienced at driving box trucks, such as people who may have just rented one to move, he said.

“Every now and then a large camper gets pulled through, and it usually gets damaged because the bridge takes the air conditioning units from above,” he said.

A neighbor’s security camera pointed at the bridge helped track down some errant drivers.

Lyndon is far from alone, said Bill Caswell, president of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges.

“You can visit many covered bridges in Vermont and other states and see broken planks on the gantries and broken or missing roof brackets,” he said by email.

Last November, a semi-trailer truck seriously damaged a covered bridge in Princeton, Ill., and a similar incident occurred a year earlier in Ohio, he said. A historic covered bridge in Cobb County, Georgia, was struck numerous times until metal barriers were installed at both ends, he said. It also has warning signs and flashing lights.

“Despite all warnings, barriers are still being hit,” Caswell wrote. “But the bridge is now protected.”

A box truck rental company in Lyndonville is now warning drivers about covered bridges in the area, and the city is considering installing a steel beam in front of the bridge to force over-height trucks to a stop.

A Google spokesperson said: “Google Maps is designed for drivers of standard-sized vehicles. To get the best routes, we encourage drivers of trucks and larger vehicles to use navigation tools designed specifically for those vehicle types.”

Apple did not respond to an email seeking comment.

There are mixed opinions in the city about what to do, Smith said.

“Some people clearly want to see something that protects the bridge so we can keep it in place,” he said. “Others say, ‘It’s time to take it off, put it aside and put in a more standard bridge. ”

“I swear, if we took that bridge away and didn’t replace it, people would go into the river. It’s very frustrating to think that we are so attuned to what something tells us to do.”