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| West Liberty covered bridge. 10/5/2025 dwm |
This is the shortest covered bridge in the United States.
It's also probably the only bridge built by 60 students as part of a school project (Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School, now known as A-Tech).
Timber was harvested within Ashtabula county then students used finished pieces of lumber to build components then put it together on-site.
When I think about the short bridges we've seen over the years, the first one to pop to mind is the Phillips covered bridge in Parke County, Indiana. The Phillips bridge measured 43-feet over Big Pond Creek.
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| 18' SPAN is written on pavement. 10/5/25 dwm |
beneath West Liberty Street.
The bridge was designed by the former engineer for Ashtabula county who also designed a bridge the county proudly proclaims is the longest in the country (more on that bridge in a few weeks)..
According to the bridge's Wikipedia page, John Smolen designed the bridge after the culvert needed repairs. The idea for a bridge was floated, and when it turned out to be a comparable cost, officials agreed it was worth the investment.
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| The bridge is just off South Broadway. dwm |
That's why we decided to spend four days and three nights in Ashtabula county, 14 years after the bridge was built.
The bridge opened to traffic in October 2011, just in time for the county's Covered Bridge festival.
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| There are 115 barn quilts in Ashtabula Co, several on bridges. 10/5/2025 dwm |
You might be able to jump across Cowles Creek, which flows under the bridge. 10/5/2025
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| The bridge's roof is supported with a scissors truss. 10/5/2025 dwm |
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