Mechanicsville Road Covered Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mechanicsville Road Bridge
Coordinates	41°45′17″N 80°53′53″W / 41.75472°N 80.89806°W / 41.75472; -80.89806
Locale	Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Characteristics
Design	single span, Howe truss with arch
Total length	156 feet (47.5 m)
History
Construction begin	1867
Location of the bridge in Ashtabula County Location of Ashtabula County in Ohio

The Mechanicsville Road Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It stretches across the Grand River in Austinburg Township, located in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. This bridge is quite famous in the area! It's one of 17 covered bridges you can still drive across in the county.

What makes it extra special? It's the longest covered bridge in Ashtabula County that has only one main span. People also believe it's the oldest covered bridge in the entire county. The bridge uses a design called a Howe truss, which is a strong way to build bridges. During its big update in 2003-2004, extra curved wooden supports, called laminated arches, were added to make it even stronger. You can find this bridge about 4.3 miles (7.0 km) southeast of Geneva. It's listed in the World Guide to Covered Bridges with the number 35-04-18.

Bridge History: A Timeless Crossing

The Mechanicsville Road Bridge has a long and interesting past. It has stood for many years, connecting communities and helping people travel.

Building the Bridge: 1867

• The Mechanicsville Road Bridge was first built in 1867. Imagine how much history this bridge has seen! It was a big project back then to build such a long bridge.

Changes and Updates: Early 2000s

• For some time, the bridge was closed to traffic. This happened before its big renovation.
• At some point, the road itself, Mechanicsville Road, was changed. It used to run just west of the bridge. Then, it was moved to the east and north, crossing a brand new bridge. This helped traffic flow better.
• The bridge got a major makeover between 2003 and 2004. This renovation helped fix up the old bridge and make it safe again.
• After all the hard work, the bridge was officially reopened in 2004. It was a special event, celebrating the bridge's return to service.

Bridge Design and Size

The Mechanicsville Road Bridge is a great example of old-fashioned engineering. Its design helps it stand strong and carry traffic safely.

Howe Truss Design

The bridge uses a special building method called a Howe truss. This design uses a pattern of wooden beams and iron rods that form triangles. Triangles are very strong shapes, which helps the bridge support a lot of weight. This design was popular for covered bridges because it was sturdy and reliable.

Length of the Bridge

• The main part of the bridge, its single span, is 156 feet (47.5 meters) long. That's about half the length of a football field! This makes it the longest single-span covered bridge in Ashtabula County.

Gallery

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  Interior view, showing the truss design

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  View from the west

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  Bridge during its renovation

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  A Panoramic View of Mechanicsville Road Covered Bridge in August 2016