Pont Couvert de Milby is a covered bridge over the Rivière Moe in Waterville, in the former hamlet of Milby. The bridge is about an 8-minute drive from Motel Lennoxville; confirm current access before you go.
- Location: chemin du Pont-Couvert, Waterville, Estrie
- Route reference: about 4.8 km southeast from the QC-147 junction with QC-108, then left onto chemin du Pont-Couvert
- Access: vehicle status has been reported differently; check locally before approaching
What makes Pont Couvert de Milby notable
Pont Couvert de Milby stands out for its timber truss construction and distinctive exterior details. Built in 1873 by brothers Robert and John Hood, the bridge was restored in 2007 and cited as a heritage building by Waterville in 1992.
The single-span Town simple truss measures 24.08 metres long and 6.17 metres wide, with diagonal timber members forming a lattice. Vertical-board siding, cedar-shingle roofing and long openings along the upper chords give the structure its characteristic appearance; curved tree roots were shaped into braces.
The Town simple truss design was patented in 1820 by American architect Ithiel Town. The Quebec heritage register describes the Milby bridge as one of the province’s oldest surviving examples of this structural type.
How do you get from Lennoxville to the bridge?
The bridge is on chemin du Pont-Couvert in Waterville. A route reference describes an approach from QC-147.
For that route, travel about 4.8 km southeast from the junction of QC-147 and QC-108, then turn left onto chemin du Pont-Couvert. This is a route reference from the highway junction, not turn-by-turn directions from Lennoxville, so use a current map for the full drive.
Bridge access and what to check
Confirm the bridge’s current traffic status before driving to it. Reports range from a recurring seasonal vehicle closure from November 15 to April 15 to the bridge being open for most of the year after its restoration.
A covered-bridge association lists a 5-tonne load limit and a clearance height of 2.40 metres. Restrictions or access conditions can change, so check posted signs before approaching by vehicle. Visitor parking and pedestrian access during a traffic closure are not established; don’t assume either is permitted.
When to visit and what to check
Before you set out, check the official site before you go, and confirm conditions locally if the site does not clarify whether the bridge is open. The regional tourism article describes the bridge as giving access to Camping du Pont couvert and says it is in use in summer only, but does not give current campground dates or hours.
There is no confirmed admission fee or recommended visit duration. Plan around the access information you can verify, rather than assuming you can drive across or enter the surrounding area.
Combining the bridge with a Lennoxville stay
If you’re also planning time in the area, Bishop’s University’s Lennoxville campus can be part of your plans.
The bridge is in Waterville, in the former hamlet of Milby.
Sherbrooke city centre is another place to include in your plans.
FAQs
Where is Pont Couvert de Milby?
It is on chemin du Pont-Couvert in Waterville, Estrie, over the Rivière Moe, in the former hamlet of Milby.
When was the bridge built?
Brothers Robert and John Hood built it in 1873. It underwent restoration in 2007.
Can you drive across Pont Couvert de Milby?
Access reports differ, and the bridge’s traffic status may change. Confirm current conditions and follow posted restrictions before approaching by car.