Ohio Covered Bridges - Middle

Middle Covered Bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

The Middle Road bridge was the first of three we saw that crossed Conneaut creek instead of a branch of the Ashtabula River.

It is also the only true Howe Truss bridge in Ashtabula County. 

According to Carl E. Feather's history of the county bridges, the 1868 bridge had a near disaster in 1984 when the bridge's north end fell 18-feet without warning.

The county engineer, John Smolen, who designed the new bridges around Ashtabula, was concerned an accumulation of snow on the bridge roof could cause it to collapse into the creek.

Looking north toward the bridge. 10/6/25 dwm

 There was a recession at the time, so the repairs were engineered by Smolen and carried out by four county workers and four paid college students. Feather's article credits the volunteers, who did the work for $50,000, preserving the bridge.

 The bridge is tucked in a forested valley 8 miles north-east of the Root bridge (last week's bridge) and is the eastern-most bridge in the county.

 It's location is naturally quiet with a lush forest and offers different angles for pictures. A brochure from the county mentions the creek is home to steel head (rainbow trout).

Conneaut creek from the bridge. 10/6/25 dwm

This was the 13th of 19 bridges we saw in Ashtabula County and one of the few with gravel roads on both sides of the bridge.

It was one of my favorites. 

Middle Road Bridge

Built: 1868

Style: Howe Truss  

Length: 136-feet over Conneaut creek 

We heard dozens of walnuts hitting the ground while looking at the bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm 

The Middle Road Covered Bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

Conneaut Creek is home to steelhead (rainbow trout). 10/6/2025 dwm

Heading home. 10/6/2025 dwm