Johnnie Brook Trail
2016 bridge project photo gallery.
Johnnie Brook trail bridge made ready for the next generation (by them).
South Burlington High School "Big Picture" students took on a refit of the Johnnie Brook bridge, in Richmond, as their big end of year project. They analyzed the existing bridge, researched design standards and proposed several options for their work. We chose to have them try the biggest most difficult option (you're welcome, gang!) And they managed to pull it off, go figure. Kudos to their teachers for having the kids to pull together all the things they've been learning in different classes and applying it to make a change in the real world.
The bridge at this site has been through many generations already. It began as a town road bridge (it's still a class IV road here). In 2005 the Richmond Trail Committee resurrected the bridge with a lot of repair to the abutments and new I-beams to span the brook. The deck of the bridge was damaged in Hurricane Irene and a temporary deck was put in place at that time. Now the Big Picture students have put in a heavy new deck and railing (and bench) that should last many decades.
And we're already day dreaming about which project next year's students might be into, fingers crossed.