Ohio Covered Bridges - State

The State Road Bridge over Conneaut creek. 10/6/2025 dwm

The first bridge on State Road over Conneaut Creek was built in 1831, it served the area until 1898. 

The first bridge was replaced but the replacement was replaced too.

John Smolen, a name you should recognize if you've been following the bridge posts, was the county engineer who persuaded Ashtabula County to add to their heritage by building the first covered bridge since 1920. This bridge precedes his other bridges.

It's beautiful. The bridge crossing Conneaut creek used 97,000 feet of southern pine and oak with a four-foot tall window that stretches the length of the bridge.

The southern entry. 2/16/2026 dwm

 This was a big undertaking, building a two-span bridge, but the additional plan included rehabilitating the twelve remaining legacy bridges in Ashtabula county.

 Another thing this bridge introduced was a steady stream of people who wanted to celebrate and enjoy driving around the county to see the covered bridges.

 The 1983 dedication of this bridge was what led to the annual Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival.

 I enjoyed walking on and around the bridge and was especially happy to find a trail.

The north entry from a path

The trails on each side of the creek let me look at the bridge from behind branches, bushes, and trees.

The surrounding forest adds a lot to the experience of seeing and exploring the space it occupies; it's delightful. 

State Road Bridge

Built: 1983

Style: Town Lattice Truss  

Length: 140 feet over Conneaut Creek 

There's room to park and walk around the bridge. 10/6/2025 dwm

 

Driving across the bridge is a big part of experiencing covered bridges. 10/6/2025 dwm