TOWNSHEND — Spurred on by the continued strong support of the people of Townshend, who have voted a total of $288,000 over the past five years for the restoration of the historic West Townshend Stone Arch Bridge, built in 1910 by Townshend farmer-turned-stonemason James Otis Follett, the project is moving forward.
Work on the bridge, which carries traffic on Back Windham Road across Tannery Brook, is slated to begin in the spring of 2024 and be finished by fall. The road will be closed during that time.
The Townshend Historical Society has also recently been awarded A Save America's Treasures grant of $221,000 for the project from the National Preservation Fund, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. This grant, in addition to the $288,000 in town funds, numerous gifts, and anticipated pledges, has brought the project well within reach of its projected $800,000 budget.
A team composed of representatives from the town, the Historical Society, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has completed work on the project's Request for Proposals (RFP) from certified dry stone masons interested in leading the project.
The RFP was released to the public on June 16. Bidders must hold a current Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain Master Craftsman Certification and have experience working on projects required to meet the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation.
Potential bidders may access the RFP on the Vermont Business Registry's Electronic Billboard (bit.ly/721-bridge), or request a copy from Townshend Selectboard Assistant Connie Holt at cholt@townshendvt.gov or 802-221-2051.