Deadwood Covered Bridge

Deadwood Covered Bridge - Oregon

Spanning 105 feet across Deadwood Creek in western Lane County, Oregon is the Deadwood Covered Bridge. The bridge was originally called the Alpha Bridge after what was then the town of Alpha, about 2 miles north of the bridge. But since Alpha is now a ghost town, the name of Deadwood Bridge stuck, taking its current name from the creek the bridge crosses over. The covered bridge was designed with a Howe through truss when it was first built in 1932 by Lane County bridge builder Miller Sorenson. The bridge's flooring was installed on a slant so traffic that was rounding the corner onto the bridge would travel more safely. There is also a window on the north side of the covered bridge. The cost to build the covered bridge totaled $4,814, and thus, the Deadwood Covered Bridge became part of the Oregon's secondary road system.

Over time, the Deadwood Covered Bridge became dilapidated. During the 1970s, a concrete bridge was built nearby to take traffic away from the covered bridge. When the bridge's structural condition worsened in the early 1980s, Lane County officials decided to rehabilitate the covered bridge. In 1986, workers replaced damaged siding, flooring and portal boards from the covered bridge, along with working on the bracing, roof and bridge approaches. Following restoration of the bridge to near mint condition, a dedication ceremony in October 1986 marked the reopening of the covered bridge to vehicular traffic. The Deadwood Covered Bridge looks solid today, even if most of the traffic is sees is from covered bridge enthusiasts and local residents of various species, given the bridge's remote location.

Entering the east portal of the covered bridge.

The west portal of the covered bridge. You can see the open air windows on the north side of the bridge.

One of the local residents, firmly suggesting that I turn around and go over the covered bridge again.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Bridgehunter.com - Deadwood Covered Bridge 37-20-38
Oregon Coast Visitors Association - Deadwood Covered Bridge
Eugene Cascades & Coast - Deadwood Covered Bridge
Pacific Northwest Photoblog - Deadwood Covered Bridge

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