• The state of Vermont wanted a wider crossing for Route 2 where it goes over the Winooski River in Richmond. It had a perfectly functional 83-year-old, steel-truss span in place, so why build a new bridge?
• Instead, a $15.98 million design-build project for the Checkered House Bridge involved disconnecting one 130,000-ton truss and using hydraulic side-launching jacks to shift it 12.5 inches out to accommodate a wider road surface.
• In a day and a half, workers from Harrison & Burrowes of Glenmont, N.Y., designer Finley Engineering of Tallahassee, Fla., and CHA of Albany, N.Y., had the job done.

From the article:

A customized launching system enabled crews in Vermont to widen a historic 83-year-old bridge and, officials say, preserve it for another 80 years. ...