Powerscourt Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Powerscourt Covered BridgePont Percy |
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View (August 2005) looking upriver, from the West bank (Elgin)
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| Coordinates | 45°00′31″N 74°09′34″W / 45.00871°N 74.15953°W |
| Carries | 2-lane road (reduced to one lane + 2 sidewalks in 2010) |
| Crosses | Chateauguay River |
| Locale | Between Elgin and Hinchinbrooke |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | McCallum Truss |
| Total length | 51 m (167 ft) |
| Width | 6.2 m (20 ft) |
| Height | 8 m (26 ft) to top |
| Longest span | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Clearance above | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1861 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | Automotive and pedestrian |
| Official name: Powerscourt Covered Bridge National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1984 |
| Type: | Classified heritage immovable |
| Designated: | 1987 |
The Powerscourt Covered Bridge is a really old and special covered bridge in Hinchinbrooke, Quebec. It is also known as the Percy Bridge. This bridge helps people cross the Chateauguay River on the First Concession Road.
Contents
Powerscourt Covered Bridge: A Unique Piece of History
What Makes This Bridge So Unique?
This bridge was built way back in 1861. It uses a special design called the McCallum inflexible arched truss. This design was created by Daniel McCallum. What makes the Powerscourt Bridge super unique is that it was the only bridge of its kind not built for trains.
Most bridges using this McCallum design were for railways. But over time, these wooden railway bridges were replaced with stronger steel and concrete ones. This means the Powerscourt Covered Bridge is now the very last bridge of its kind left in the world!
How Was It Built and Restored?
The Powerscourt Covered Bridge stands on three strong stone supports called piers. Each of the two main sections of the bridge works on its own.
In 2009, the bridge was completely fixed up. It was restored to look exactly like it did when it was first built in 1861.
Why Is This Bridge Important?
The Powerscourt Covered Bridge is very important for a few reasons. In 1984, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This happened because:
- It is the only known example of a McCallum inflexible arched truss bridge still existing.
- It is one of the oldest covered bridges you can find in all of Canada.
Later, in 1987, the bridge was also named an Historic Monument of Quebec. Experts from the U.S. Historic American Engineering Record even studied and documented it in 2003.
