This pedestrian bridge marks the confluence of the North Branch River and the Winooski. Look over one side to see the North Branch literally flowing under the city. Look over the other side to see where it flows into the Winooski just beyond the adjacent railroad bridge.
Early settlers built their homes around this confluence directly upon the flood plain. The Central Vermont Railroad built a covered railroad bridge here around 1850 and later replaced it in 1907 with the truss bridge that still exists today. The stone foundations constrict the outflow of the river. During high water events, the smaller North Branch hits the rising Winooski like a wall and backs up, overflowing its banks into the surrounding parking lots and buildings.