Photo by Terese Volkmann The crowds came early to see the dedication of the newest covered bridge in Ashtabula County and the longest in the United States. Spanning the Ashtabula River, the bridge is 613 feet long with amazing views of the river gulf where eagles nest and soar.
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Longest covered bridge in United States dedicated
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The sun shone brightly on an estimated crowd of 1,500 last Tuesday for the dedication of Covered Bridge Number 17. Ashtabula County is now home to the longest covered bridge in the United States.
Betty Morrison, director of the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival, welcomed everyone by saying it was "a great day for Ashtabula County and tourism." The Lakeside High School marching band performed and rattled the rafters as they stood inside the bridge.
This day was 13 years and $8 million in the making.
Former Ashtabula County engineer John Smolen came up with the idea of creating the world's longest bridge when the old concrete and steel bridge over the Ashtabula River needed to be replaced. The reason it ended up so long was the county decided to straighten out curves on the road and bank-to-bank ended up being 613 feet.
Construction of the Pratt Truss Bridge began in the summer of 2006. The bridge piers and abutments comprise 7,000,000 pounds of concrete and nearly one half million pounds of steel reinforcements. There is 51,000 cubic feet of lumber in the wood structure. Each side has a five-foot wide covered walkway to enjoy the scenic Ashtabula River Gulf area, where eagles soar. It is 93 feet above the river, creating an amazing view.
This bridge is designed to be used. It is 30-feet wide, 14-and-a-half-feet high and will support full legal loads, including 80,000-pound tractor trailer traffic.
Smolen is known nationally for his work with covered bridges. During his years as county engineer, he rehabilitated or rebuilt all 16 bridges in the county. He recognized the value of the covered bridges as an Ashtabula County treasure and something that needed to be preserved for future generations.
As engineer, Smolen set goals regarding the bridges in his care. Goals included rehabilitate or rebuild all then 12 bridges, strengthen those that could be used for traffic, build a reputation as a county with well-maintained covered bridges and then use them to promote Ashtabula County locally and nationally as a tourism draw.
The work of Smolen has been acknowledged by the name on Bridge Number 17. It now will be known as the Smolen-Gulf Bridge, Ashtabula County Highway 25.
But are covered bridges effective and efficient? Yes. Bridges are covered to protect the wood. Wooden covered bridges in the United States can be over 100 years old. In Asia, there are some even older.
The initial cost to build a covered bridge may be more, but with an expected lifespan of 100 years, in the long run they are much cheaper to maintain.
The biggest threat to steel bridges is steel-destroying winter salt. On a wooden bridge, that same salt actually acts as a preservative, making it stronger.
There is still about a month's work to fully complete the project. The best time to view the bridge and learn more about this wonderful heritage is during the 25th Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival, Oct. 11 and 12. For a list of all 17 bridges in Ashtabula County and more festival information visit www.coveredbridgefestival.org.
Pennsylvania has the most covered bridges in the Unites States with 222. Ohio is second with 141. But it now attracts national and worldwide attention as home of the largest covered bridge in the United States. The second longest covered bride, 450 feet, spans the Connecticut River between Windsor, Vt., and Cornish, N. H.
The longest covered bridge in the world is in Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada. It is 1,282 feet long and spans the St. John River. It officially opened in l901 and cost $27,945.
Covered bridges are a treasure from the past. Ashtabula County has recognized that and protects and promotes their covered bridges. They really nice part is they are so close to enjoy. A tour makes a nice day's adventure or a way to show visitors something unique to this area. Get out and see the past preserved through these marvelous structures.
Volkmann is a freelance writer who lives in Hambden Township. She also is an expert on Laura Ingalls Wilder and frequently portrays the pioneer woman's life at festivals around Northeast Ohio. Volkmann also is a spokeswoman for the Northeast Ohio Maple Producers Association.
