The Vermont Agency of Transportation is working on what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind project to widen an historic Richmond bridge by splitting it in two lengthwise.

Construction on the Checkered House Bridge over the Winooski River is under way. Engineers will split the existing bridge within the next few weeks, jack the two sides apart and add steel to hold them together.

The 350-foot steel truss bridge replaced a covered bridge that was destroyed by the 1927 flood.

The plan is to widen the bridge from about 20 feet to 30 feet, to accommodate modern traffic.

Transportation Agency Engineer Carolyn Carlson says once the project is finished a year from now it will be a much safer drive.