West Liberty Covered Bridge

West Liberty Covered Bridge
Coordinates 41°47′57″N 80°56′55″W / 41.79915°N 80.9485°W / 41.79915; -80.9485Coordinates: 41°47′57″N 80°56′55″W / 41.79915°N 80.9485°W / 41.79915; -80.9485
Crosses Cowles Creek[1]
Locale Geneva, Ohio
Maintained by City of Geneva, Ohio
Characteristics
Total length 18 feet (5.5 m)[2]
Number of spans 1
History
Designer John Smolen[2]
Construction begin 2010
Construction end 2011
Opened 2011

The West Liberty Covered Bridge is a covered bridge which carries West Liberty Street across Cowles Creek in Geneva, Ohio, United States. At 18 feet (5.5 m), it has been called the shortest covered bridge in the United States.[2] The bridge, one of 17 drivable covered bridges in the county, was designed by John Smolen, former Ashtabula County Engineer and the designer of the Smolen–Gulf Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the U.S., also in Ashtabula County.

Construction

Conceived in 2007,[3] the bridge project proceeded in 2008 when the Ohio Public Works Commission supplied a grant for its construction.[1] The decision to replace the existing culvert with a covered bridge was made because a bridge of that type would be cheaper than replacing the culvert with another culvert, and also would add to the tourism created by Ashtabula County's other covered bridges.[1]

The foundation for the bridge was laid in September 2010,[4] with the bridge proper assembled starting the following month.[5] Students from the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School (now Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus, or A-Tech) in nearby Jefferson Township contributed their labor, further defraying the costs.[5]

The bridge opened to traffic on August 22, 2011.[6] It was dedicated on October 8, 2011.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Trax Page, Margie (2008-08-14). "OPWC pays toll for shortest covered bridge". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  2. 1 2 3 Mason, Everdeen (2010-09-29). "Nation's shortest covered bridge to be built in Geneva, Ohio". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  3. ↑ Trax Page, Margie (2007-10-08). "Geneva unveils big project: One short covered bridge". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  4. ↑ Feather, Carl E. (2010-09-04). "Smallest in the U.S. Growing Fast". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  5. 1 2 Trax Page, Margie (2010-10-07). "Learning on the Job". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  6. ↑ Trax, Margie (2011-08-23). "Big Day for Little Bridge". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  7. ↑ Dillaway, Warren (2011-10-09). "Ashtabula County Has It Covered!". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
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