Officials Hope Federal Funds Will Pay For Repairs To Vermont-New Hampshire Bridge

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. (AP) — Officials in a Vermont town are hoping federal funds will become available to help pay for repairs to a long-closed bridge across the Connecticut River linking it to New Hampshire.

The Vilas Bridge between Bellows Falls and Walpole, New Hampshire, has been closed for 12 years. Another bridge is available about a mile further up the river.

The Rockingham Select Board voted recently to have member Bonnie North continue her research into coordination with officials in Walpole and the state of New Hampshire on how to best take advantage of what is hoped will be new federal infrastructure funding.

Rockingham Town Manager Scott Pickup told the Brattleboro Reformer now might be the time to pursue federal money to get the historic bridge restored and reopened.

Pickup said the town would likely seek $9 million in funding to cover the Vermont share of the bridge. The bridge is on the New Hampshire Department of Transportation's 10-year list, with about $10 million budgeted, he said.