SPRING BRIDGE TOUR 2007

SPRING BRIDGE TOUR 2007 of = LOGAN AND UNION COUNTIES=

Ron Jones Tour Director / Janis Ford Asst.

http://oldohiobridges.com/ohba.htm

Cellphone 614 xxx-xxxx

Meet at 10:00 AM in the westbound rest area on US 33 located just west of Bellefontaine.

Start tour leaving the rest area going west on US-33 to the Huntsville exit and go north on SR-117. Proceed through <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Huntsville and pa= st the Duff Quarry to CR-96 and turn left (west) at the cemetery. Follow 96 to CR-38 and turn right (North) at T. Turn left at TH-96 and left at CR-98 to the bridge. Park on right before bridge.

BICKHAM COVERED BRIDGE (35-46-03), built in 1877 by the Smith Bridge Company. It is a well-preserved example of a Howe truss by this famo= us Toledo bridge bui= lding firm and is also noteworthy for the original siding and trim panels on each portal.

Proceed through the bridge and turn right where CR-38 meets SR-366. Follow 366 to SR 708 and turn left (south). Follow 708 to SR-= 235 and turn left (south). Follow 235 then make a right onto CR-13, proceed to = the:

McCOLLY COVERED = BRIDGE (35-46-01), built over the Great Miami River in = 1876 by Anderson, Green and Company from Sidney. Named for the adjacent farmer, Nicholas McColly, this Howe truss was built for $13.35 a li= neal foot.

Proceed through the bridge and turn around at the delta-junction just ahead and go back through the bridge. Turn right on SR-= 235, then turn right (south) onto SR-47. Stay right on TH-21 as 47 turns. Pass through the bridge to park:

DOUBLE-INTERSECTION PRATT THROUGH TRUSS, built over the Great Miami River by the Massillon Bridge Company in 1882. This type of truss was developed by the railroads in the late 1850s for crossing large spans with a single bridge. This example is rem= arkably well-preserved and is in a very pleasant setting. Howeve= r, its preservation is uncertain.

Proceed ahead and turn left at CR-77, then left at TH-35. Turn left o= nto SR-47. Go east (straight ahead) on SR-47 towards Bellefontaine.

Turn right (south) on US-68 in Bellfontaine. =

STOP for lunch at Wendy’s. Pizza Hut or KFC near Washington Ave. Regroup at Wendy’s in 45 minutes to continue tour.

Back track (north) on US-68. Proceed to US-33. Turn right (east) on US-33 into Union County. Exit freeway at SR-739 (Honda Parkway) and turn left at the end of the exit ramp. Take Stokes Road (CR-168) to West Darby Roa= d (TR-167) and turn left. Follow West Darby to North Lewisburg Road (CR-164) and t= urn right. Follow it to:

New Pratt Truss Covered Bridge. This has replaced the Upper Darby CB, which has been moved 0.4 mi to the south. It is a Wood and steel Pratt Truss designed by John Smolen from Ashtabula Co.

ROUTE WILL DETOUR IF THIS BRIDGE IS CLOSED= follow the= lead car to the Spain Creek Bridge by taking W Darby Rd (CR-167) south to SR-245 (ri= ght turn) then turn right (north) onto Inskeep-Cratty Rd.

IF NO DETOUR: proceed across the bridge then turn left (south) onto Inskeep-= Cratty Rd (CR-163). In about a 0.4 mi on the right is= the new location of:

UPPER DARBY COVERED BRIDGE<= /b> (35-80-01) built 1868 by Reuben Partridge bas= ed on his patented truss design of 1872.

Continue so= uth on Inskeep-Cratty Road (CR-163) to the:

SPAIN = CREEK COVERED BRIDGE<= /b> (35-80-02), built about 1870 by Reuben Partridge. This bridge was rehabilitated by the county engineer with Glu-Lam beams in 1988-89.

Continue through the bridge and turn left on SR-245. Follow 245 to N Darby Coe Rd and turn right (sout= h). Follow this to Buck Run Ro= ad and turn right

New Pratt Truss Covered Bridge= This is the second new Pra= tt Truss CB in Union County and replaces= the metal Pratt Through bridge at this location.

If bridge is open we will proceed across it to Middleburg-Plain City Rd. Turn left an= d go south to SR-4 (US-36). If closed we will stay on N Darby Coe Rd going south.

Turn right on SR-4 (US-36)

Stop at Milford-Ce= nter service station for restroom and refreshments.

Continue SW on SR-4 to Homer Road = (CR-86) and turn left. Continue to Winget Road and turn left to see the:

CULBERTSON COVERED BRIDGE (35-80-03), built in 1868 by Reuben Partridge over Treacle Creek. This 94' truss was rehabilitated in 1987-88 by the county using Glu-Lam beams, the f= irst of three covered bridge projects completed under the direction of Steve Sto= lte, county engineer.

Turn around and re= turn to Homer Rd. Turn left (south) on Homer. Look to your left after the bend in the road for an abandoned metal truss bridge over Treacle Creek. Proceed to SR-161 and turn left. Go east on 161 to Axe Handle Rd (CR-87) on your left.= Continue through the bridge to park at<= span class=3DCharacterStyle1>: =

COVERED BRIDGE (35-80-04), built in 1873 by Reuben Partridge over Little Darby Creek. This bridge was renovated by the county engineer in 1990. Arches of nail laminated 2 x 10's were built within the bridge and th= en new Glu-Lam floor beams suspended from arches.<= /span>

Pratt Pony look east to see a small metal Pratt Half-Hip Pony bridge over L. Da= rby Ck. Two more private pony bridges (A Warren and a Kingpost) are also visible from SR-161 further east.

Proceed south to Dellinger Rd and turn right (east).= This will intersect Streng Rd. Turn left (north) and continue to the bridge:

STRENG ROAD BRIDGE<= /b>, a 200' Pratt through truss built in 1914 by = the Central Concrete and Construction Company of Canton, Ohio. Located in the midst = of a recreation area, its highly decorative portals and the natural surroundings serve to complement each other. It was built to replace a structure washed = out in the 1913 flood.

This ends the tour.

If you continue through the Streng Rd Bridge it will T into SR-38. Turn left (north) and follow it as it changes name to Main St. It intersects US-33 in Marysville.=

Alternately, turn right on SR-38 (south) and follow it to SR 161. If you tu= rn right (west) on 161 you can see three private bridges on your right before = you get to Axe Handle road. if you turn left (east) on 161, you'll be headed toward Plain City & Columbus. There is a beautiful mural in = Plain City at the junction of 161 & US 42. http://www.ohiobarns.com/othersites/patriotic/oh/PAT35-49flag.html

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