Ohio Covered Bridges

Riverdale Covered Bridge, Rock Creek. 10/5/2025 dwm

Fourteen miles north of the Windsor Mills bridge is where you'll find the bridge named for its location, Riverdale road.

It was built in 1874 high above the Grand River. A center brace was added to the bridge in 1945.

In 1981, the bridge floor was rebuilt and glue laminated girders were added to the bridge's interior.

The improvements provide additional strength for the bridge but also narrows the width of the lane.

Notice the half-wall, bridge within a bridge. 10/5/205 dwm

I don't recall seeing this feature on other bridges. It seems like a good addition if it allows the bridge to continue as a working bridge.

In the photo at right, you can see the lumber added to the original Town Lattice design.

In 1987, the east end of the bridge washed out and a new concrete abutment was built.

There aren't many angles from which to shoot the Riverdale bridge except each end.

The bridge is surrounded by forests on either side of the Grand River, with a few clearings for farmland or pasture.

The Grand River from the bridge. 10/5/25 dwm

If you visit the bridge, park and walk around it, and take time to look out the bridge windows at the river if you can do so safely. It's worth the time.

Riverdale

Ashtabla County

Built: 1874

Style: Town Lattice

Length: 114-feet long above Grand River

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving, so I'm going to skip a week for the annual Thanksgiving blog. The covered bridge series will continue December 4, 2025.