Babb's Bridge is a covered bridge spanning the Presumpscot River on Hurricane Road, between the towns of Gorham and Windham in Cumberland County, Maine. Built in 1976, it is a replica of a 19th-century bridge that once stood on the site, having been destroyed by arson in 1973. The original Babb's Bridge was Maine’s oldest covered bridge, which was built in 1840 and named for the family that lived nearby. This exact replica was built with lumber milled locally in Gorham. MaineDOT meticulously reconstructed the Queen Post Truss bridge using historically authentic techniques and reopened it to traffic in 1976.

The exact date of construction of the older bridge is a matter of debate. Some sources give a date as early as 1843, while the state and other sources maintain a date of 1864. Following its destruction, the towns petitioned the state to build a replica, instead of replacing the bridge with a modern structure of steel and concrete. The present bridge was built, in part, as a community effort with donated materials and labor, using techniques that might have been used in the construction of the original.

Sadly, Babb's bridge is plagued by vandalism, including a 2014 report of vandals cutting holes in the roof. In addition, the bridge closed in early 2015 due to damage caused by a snowplow. Repairs were completed in the spring of 2015, and the bridge reopened to traffic.

Babb's Bridge is located on the Presumpscot River, carrying Hurricane Road between central-western Windham on the east side and northern Gorham on the west side. It is a single-span queen post truss bridge, with a total structure length of 79 feet and a width of 13 feet 9 inches. Its end portals have a posted height limit of 10 feet. Covered by a gabled roof, its side and end walls are finished in vertical board siding.

The 19th-century Babb's Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 as a joint effort of the Windham and Gorham Historical Societies.

Located at:  N43 45.963   W70 26.874        -        WGCB #19-03-01 #2

Photographed in May of 2022

Photos by Millard Farmer