Gilkey Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Creek – Gilkey Covered Bridge
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Gilkey Bridge over Thomas Creek
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Scio |
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| Built | 1939 |
| Architectural style | Howe truss |
| MPS | Oregon Covered Bridges TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000016 |
| Listed | February 19, 1987 |
The Gilkey Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It's located in Linn County, Oregon in the U.S. state of Oregon. This historic bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It's officially known as the Thomas Creek – Gilkey Covered Bridge.
Contents
Where is the Gilkey Bridge?
The Gilkey Bridge carries Goar Road. It crosses over Thomas Creek. This spot is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of a town called Scio.
The Gilkey Bridge and another covered railroad bridge used to cross the creek together. They were located at a place that was once a small community named Gilkey.
A Bit of History
The community of Gilkey was once a station on the Southern Pacific Railway line. This railway connected the towns of Crabtree and Shelburn.
The station was set up in 1880. It was named after Allen and William Gilkey. Allen Gilkey came to Oregon in the early 1850s and settled nearby.
The Gilkey Bridge itself was built in 1939. It is 120 feet (37 meters) long.
Bridge Accidents and Repairs
The Gilkey Bridge has been damaged a couple of times.
First Damage and Repair
In 1997, an overloaded vehicle caused damage to the bridge. Because of this, the bridge had to be closed for repairs. It was fixed and reopened to traffic in 1998.
Second Damage Incident
Just nine years later, in 2007, the bridge was damaged again. A worker was driving a truck across the bridge. A part of the truck, called a hydraulic boom, was left extended. It hit power lines and then crashed into the bridge's cover.
The truck got stuck sideways about three-quarters of the way across the bridge. Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident. The truck was moved after about five hours. However, the bridge lost about half of its ability to hold weight.
Recent Rehabilitation
The Gilkey Bridge was fully repaired and updated in 2017. This big project cost about $1.6 million.
