The Bennetts Mill Covered Bridge is a historic covered Wheeler truss crossing over Tygarts Creek in Greenup County, Kentucky.
The Bennetts Mill Covered Bridge, a covered Wheeler truss, was constructed of yellow pine timbers, poplar siding, solid oak flooring, and white oak shingles by B. F. and Parmly Bennett for his adjoining mill over Tygarts Creek in 1855. 1 3 5 It also featured abutments of dressed sandstone from the abandoned Globe pig-iron furnace. 5
Before a new bridge along the new AA Highway over Tygarts Creek was completed three miles upstream from the covered bridge in 1994, the state had planned to build a new concrete bridge adjacent to Bennetts Mill. 6 It would then close the historic span to automobile traffic. Plans for the new bridge were dropped because of resident concerns.
It was discovered in 2002 that the crossing was resting on rotting foundations and that it would need major repairs to keep it serviceable for daily automobile usage. In 2003, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that the historic Bennetts Mill Covered Bridge, the only one of its type still existing, 1 4 would be reconstructed. 2 Because of advanced deterioration, only 15% of the original wood in the bridge was reused.
The refurbished Bennetts Mill Covered Bridge reopened in 2004. 2
Information
- State: Kentucky
- Route: Covered Bridge Road
- Type: Covered Wheeler Truss
- Status: Active - Automobile
- Total Length: 155 feet
- Deck Width: 16.8 feet
- Total Height: 14 feet
Sources
- ‘Bennetts Mill Bridge.’ University of Kentucky. April 20, 2007 Article.
- Hultgren, John. ‘Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge.’ October 14, 2004.
- ‘Kentucky’s Covered Bridges.’ Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives July 1, 2005.
- “Wooden wonders.” Kentucky Post, October 30, 1996.
- White, Vernon. Covered Bridges: Focus on Kentucky. Kentucke Imprints, 1985, pp. 76-80.
- “Greenup residents fight to keep covered bridge open to traffic.” Courier-Journal, 12 Aug. 1997, p. B5.
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