Illinois Covered Bridges - Jackson

The new Jackson Covered Bridge, Greenup, Illinois.
5/26/2019  dwm photo

The third stop on my three bridge tour (Sugar Creek, Thompson Mill, and Jackson) lead me to a new version of a very old covered bridge.

The original was built over the Embarass River in 1832 near Greenup, Illinois.

That bridge was washed out by floods in 1865 and replaced with a modern style crossing ten years later.  It washed out in 1912.

A three span bridge replaced it in 1920.  It lasted until its eastern pier was damaged by severe flooding in 1996.

Local officials then applied for a grant to build a modern version of the original.  It opened in 2000.

Looking through a bridge window at the Embarass River.
5/26/2019  dwm photo

It is and was part of the National Road that traveled as far west as Vandalia, Illinois in 1837.

That road, widely known as "The Cumberland Turnpike," lent its name to the county and bridge.

This version of the Jackson bridge is built like any bridge with the exception of being restricted to one lane.

It is tall enough and strong enough for tractor trailers. 

You can also see it from nearby U.S. Highway 40, which replaced the Old National Road.

A motorcyclist crosses the bridge before
stopping to take a closer look.
5/26/19 dwm photo

If you want to take a look at the other 105 covered bridges in my collection, follow this link.

For now, the bridge series will be paused.

By my count, there are only 14 bridges left in the upper Midwest for me to visit: 1 in Illinois; 4 in Michigan (including one being rebuilt); and 10 in Iowa.

I hope to get all of them at some point over the next year.  My other collection, lighthouses, resumes in October.

Thank you for reading!