Submitted
Artist’s rendering of the proposed covered bridge gives residents a picture of the plan.
By Stephen Seitz
KILLINGTON — If all goes according to the plan, sometime this spring visitors to the area will have an opportunity to cross a covered bridge on Killington Road — on foot.
The bridge will be a small replica of a classic Vermont covered bridge and will be built across from Dean Hill Road next to the former Casey’s Caboose Restaurant.
Amy Morrison, the town’s events and marketing coordinator, said the idea came up a few years back.
“Otto Iannantuoni approached the town with the covered bridge concept and location several years ago,” she wrote in an email. “Recognizing the town’s efforts to beautify the gateway and the commercial district, we believe that by coordinating efforts via the KPAA Beautification Committee, we will be able to help further the aesthetic development of our community. The flower plantings have improved the impression of visitors and has generally made the town more attractive.”
Morrison said the project would cost roughly $30,000, and be paid for by the Killington Pico Area Association’s Beautification Committee. As of Friday, Jan. 15, the project had been fully funded, she added.
“Through coordinated efforts the town and business community we can help continue to move the area forward,” Morrison wrote. “The KPAA will continue to do outreach and solicit donations for the covered bridge project and other beautification projects, such as pocket parks, that we have identified.”
The KPAA, she wrote, has been active in raising funds.
“[Chairman] Howard Karass, of Roaring Brook Brewing, has been leading efforts to seek individual donations,” she wrote. “The Moran Family Foundation and Bob McGovern have made leadership donations towards the project.”
McGovern donated $5,000 toward the project, according to the minutes of an Oct. 19, 2015 meeting of the economic development and tourism commission.
The completed bridge should be done before summer, Morrison said.
“Construction will begin in the coming months with an opening day before Memorial Day Weekend,” she wrote. “Roaring Brook Constructors was awarded the bid for the project by the KPAA.”
There had been a potential snag: back in October, fire chief Gary Roth told the Mountain Times that there might be an issue with the bridge’s location. He said then the tower truck would not be able to leave the fire station’s garage.
That, wrote Morrison, has been resolved.
“We reached out to the fire department to ask them if it would be an issue, and they confirmed that it would not be,” she wrote.
Attempts to reach Roth for further comment were unsuccessful.
