Office Covered Bridge 2

Posted by Steve Rice (Olympia, United States) on 17 April 2009 in Architecture.

This view shows the portal of the bridge and just how big it needed to be to accommodate loaded log trucks. Notice the huge truss members, side by side, just inside the portal. You can just see the metal rods that provide tension to help keep the angled beams in place. (For a better view of the Howe truss design, take another look at the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge. The trusses are more exposed.) Also, check tomorrow's post of this bridge's interior. The small door on the left is the entrance to the walkway.

I told you yesterday that this bridge was built in 1944. The plaque on the bridge clearly says 1945 so what's up? I called the Oregon State authorities who deal with bridges and learned that dating old bridges is sometimes an art rather than a science. The date sometimes indicates when construction was started but usually when it's completed and the bridge is dedicated. The person I talked to has seen a picture of this completed bridge dated 1944.

Part of the Covered Bridges of Oregon series.

vfxy Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org