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After the 1862 Slate Covered Bridge fell victim to arson, Swanzey voters funded the construction of a reproduction in 2001 – one that looked just like it. Today, a sign above its entrance reads, “$5 fine for riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk.”

Nearly 20 years later, in 2022, Swanzey spent $60,000 to repaint the exterior of another covered bridge in town – the Thompson Bridge, also known as the West Swanzey Bridge.

“Needless to say, covered bridges are important to Swanzey’s history, identity, and sense of community,” Town Administrator Michael Branley told lawmakers last month. “We take their preservation seriously.”"