The Dover Covered Bridge is a historic covered Queenspost truss bridge near Dover, Kentucky.
The Dover Covered Bridge was constructed as a tolled structure 5 by the Kirk family, 3 4 who operated a nearby grist mill, in 1835. 1 3 The bridge received major repairs in 1928, carried out by the Bowers family of Flemingsburg. 7 The Bowers were a third-generation family of bridge builders and engineers from Flemingsburg.
In 1966, the crossing was restored after a tornado had damaged the area. 7 At that time, steel beams were added to reinforce the deteriorating bridge deck. 2 5 The restoration project was carried out by the Kentucky Department of Highways at a cost of $16,000. 7 In 1968, the bridge’s roof was replaced after a tornado blew it off. 5 The bridge underwent further renovation in 2000, including the addition of a new roof, siding, and flooring. 3
The Dover Covered Bridge was bypassed by a concrete structure in 2004. 3
In July 2017, Lee Creek experienced record flooding that caused significant damage to the covered bridge. 8 9 The floodwaters tore away two steel support beams under the bridge, caused the bridge to shift from its foundation, and washed away asphalt from the approaching roads.
In response to the disaster, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet approved $75,000 in September for emergency stabilization of the structure. 9 Arnold Grafton of Arnold M. Graton Associates was hired to assess the damage and plan how the necessary repairs could be carried out. The temporary stabilization work was completed by February 2018.
Despite these efforts, the Dover Covered Bridge still needs further repairs at the estimated cost of $1 million and $1.5 million. 6
Information
- State: Kentucky
- Route: Lee's Creek Road
- Type: Covered Queenpost Truss
- Status: Abandoned / Closed
- Total Length: 62'
- Deck Width: 12.8'
- Roadway Width: 11.6'
- Total Height: 13'
Sources
- “Dover Bridge.” University of Kentucky.
- “Dover’s covered bridge.” Maysville Homes 4 U.
- Barker, Danetta. “Vandalism defaces historic Dover Covered Bridge.” The Ledger Independent (Maysville), November 18, 2005.
- “Swollen creeks damage spans to Kentucky’s past.” Herald-Leader (Lexington), March 5, 1997. July 19, 2007.
- White, Vernon. Covered Bridges: Focus on Kentucky. Kentucke Imprints, 1985, pp. 94-100.
- Hoots, Christy. “Effort to restore Dover Covered Bridge underway.” Ledger Independent, 17 Jun. 2023.
- Mudd, Aaron. “Kentucky’s ‘kissing bridges’ sit in various states of disrepair.” Herald-Leader, 14 Aug. 2022, p. A5.
- “1800s covered bridge damaged by flooding getting fixes.” The Messenger, 13 Feb. 2018, p. A6.
- Kearns, Mary Ann. “Dover bridge still waiting for repairs.” Ledger Independent, 12 Jun. 2020.