Shimanek Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Creek – Shimanek Covered Bridge
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Shimanek 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 | 1966 |
| Architect | W. A. Palmateer and others |
| Architectural style | Howe truss |
| MPS | Oregon Covered Bridges TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000013 |
| Listed | February 2, 1987 |
The Shimanek Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. You can find it near a town called Scio in Linn County, which is in the state of Oregon. This bridge is so important that it was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It's officially known as the Thomas Creek – Shimanek Covered Bridge.
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About the Shimanek Bridge
The Shimanek Bridge is a long bridge, about 130 feet (40 m) from one end to the other. It was finished in 1966. Covered bridges are unique because they have walls and a roof, which helps protect the wooden parts from weather like rain and snow. This makes the bridge last much longer.
Bridge History
The Shimanek Bridge is not the first bridge to stand in this spot. It's actually the fifth bridge built here! The bridge before it was badly damaged by a very strong storm in 1962. That storm was called the Columbus Day Storm of 1962. The fourth bridge was built in 1927, and people think the very first bridge here was built way back in 1861.
Where the Bridge Is Located
The Shimanek Bridge crosses over a waterway called Thomas Creek. It carries a road known as Richardson Gap Road. You can find it about 2 miles (3 km) east of Scio. It's the longest covered bridge in Linn County, and it's also the newest one.
Bridge Repairs and Care
Keeping old bridges safe and strong takes a lot of work. In 2002, a team from the county worked on the Shimanek Bridge. They fixed damage that happened during a flood in 1996. Later, in November 2015, the bridge had to be closed for more repairs. Inspectors found that some parts of the bridge were starting to decay, meaning they were rotting. Temporary fixes were made quickly, but bigger repairs might take more time and money to complete.
