Middle Road Covered Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Middle Road Bridge
Coordinates	41°54′07″N 80°32′49″W / 41.90194°N 80.54694°W / 41.90194; -80.54694
Locale	Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Characteristics
Design	single span, Howe truss
Total length	136 feet (41.5 m)
History
Construction begin	1868
Location of the bridge in Ashtabula County Location of Ashtabula County in Ohio

The Middle Road Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It stretches across Conneaut Creek in Conneaut, which is in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. This bridge is one of 16 covered bridges you can still drive across in Ashtabula County.

It was built way back in 1868. In 1984, the bridge was fixed up with the help of some volunteers and college students. The Middle Road Bridge is 136 feet (about 41.5 meters) long. It runs from the northwest to the southeast.

About the Middle Road Bridge

The Middle Road Bridge uses a special design called a Howe truss. This design helps make the bridge strong. A truss is like a framework of triangles. These triangles help to spread out the weight on the bridge. This makes the bridge very stable.

What is a Covered Bridge?

A covered bridge is a bridge that has walls and a roof. They look a bit like a long, wooden tunnel. The main reason for covering bridges was to protect the wooden parts from bad weather. Rain, snow, and sun can damage wood over time. The cover helps the bridge last much longer. Many old wooden bridges would fall apart quickly without a roof.

Building and Rebuilding the Bridge

The Middle Road Bridge was first built in 1868. That makes it a very old and historic structure! Over time, even strong bridges need repairs. In 1984, the bridge was carefully rebuilt. This work helped to keep it safe and usable for many more years. It shows how communities work together to preserve important landmarks.

Where is the Bridge Located?

The bridge is in Ashtabula County, Ohio. It's about 3.2 miles (or 5.1 kilometers) south of downtown Conneaut. Ashtabula County is known for having many covered bridges. They are a popular sight for visitors.

Gallery

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  View of bridge - Southeast side

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  View of Northwest approach

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