What's New
The most significant additions to the ordinance are Articles VIII and X, which together establish formal protections for the Village Covered Bridge (Great Eddy Bridge) on Bridge Street and the Pine Brook Covered Bridge on North Road.
Article VIII codifies the following restrictions:
Village Covered Bridge (Great Eddy Bridge, Bridge Street) — Maximum gross vehicle weight: 3 tons — Maximum vehicle height: 9 feet 6 inches — One vehicle on the bridge at a time; approaching vehicles must yield to any vehicle already on the bridge
Pine Brook Covered Bridge (North Road) — Maximum gross vehicle weight: 10 tons — Maximum vehicle height: 8 feet 9 inches — One vehicle on the bridge at a time; approaching vehicles must yield to any vehicle already on the bridge
Exemptions apply to emergency vehicles actively responding to calls for service and to Town-owned vehicles engaged in necessary municipal operations.
Article X establishes penalties for violations of these restrictions. Under Vermont state law (23 V.S.A. § 1434(c)), operators of vehicles that exceed posted bridge weight or height limits are subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for a first offense, or $2,000 if the violation substantially impedes traffic, with penalties doubling for repeat offenses within three years. In addition, the Town reserves the right to pursue full recovery of actual repair and damage costs through civil action in the event a covered bridge sustains physical damage.
Speed Limit Updates
The ordinance also updates speed limit designations along Vermont Route 100 (Main Street) to reflect current state-approved milepoint references, and maintains established speed limits on all Town highways.
Questions
The full ordinance is available below. Residents with questions are welcome to contact the Town Offices at (802) 496-2218 or york.haverkamp@waitsfieldvt.gov