Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Félix-Gabriel-Marchand BridgePont Félix-Gabriel-Marchand |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Crosses | Coulonge River |
| Locale | Near Fort-Coulonge |
| Other name(s) | Marchand Bridge, Red Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Queen post and lattice trusses |
| Total length | 148.66 m (487.7 ft) |
| Width | 5.56 m (18.2 ft) |
| Clearance above | 3.96 m (13.0 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1898 |
The Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge is a special covered bridge located in the Township of Mansfield-et-Pontefract, Quebec, Canada. It stretches across the beautiful Coulonge River, close to the town of Fort-Coulonge. This bridge is more than just a way to cross a river; it's a piece of history!
Contents
Discover the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge
The Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge is famous for a few reasons. It was built way back in 1898. This makes it over 125 years old!
A Unique Covered Bridge
A covered bridge is exactly what it sounds like: a bridge with a roof and walls. These coverings were built to protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain, snow, and sun. This helped the bridges last much longer. The Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge is the longest covered bridge in all of Quebec, measuring 148.66 m (487.7 ft)!
How the Bridge Was Built
What makes this bridge truly special is its unique design. It uses a combination of two different types of supports, called trusses. Trusses are strong frameworks that help a bridge hold its weight. This bridge uses both Town and Queenpost trusses.
- A Town lattice truss looks like a crisscross pattern, like a fence made of many small X's.
- A Queenpost truss uses a few larger, simpler triangles.
Combining these two styles makes the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge one of a kind in Quebec.
A Protected Piece of History
Because of its age and unique design, the Quebec government has officially recognized the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge as an historic building. This means it's protected and preserved so that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from it. It's like a living museum that you can actually cross!
