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 Huntsville and past 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 famous Toledo bridge building
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 lineal
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 remarkably
well-preserved and is in a very pleasant setting. However,
its preservation is uncertain.

Proceed ahead and turn left at CR-77, then left at TH-35. Turn left onto
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 Road
(TR-167) and turn left. Follow West Darby to North Lewisburg Road (CR-164) and turn
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 (right
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
(35-80-01) built 1868 by Reuben Partridge based
on his patented truss design of 1872.

Continue south on
Inskeep-Cratty Road (CR-163) to the:

SPAIN CREEK COVERED BRIDGE (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 (south).
Follow this to Buck Run Road
and turn right

New Pratt Truss Covered Bridge This is the second new Pratt
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 and 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-Center
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 first
of three covered bridge projects completed under the direction of Steve Stolte,
county engineer.

Turn around and return
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:

BIGELOW 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 then
new Glu-Lam floor beams suspended from arches.

Pratt Pony look east to see a small metal Pratt Half-Hip Pony bridge over L. Darby
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, 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 turn
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