Otway Covered Bridge

The Otway Covered Bridge carries a local road over Scioto Brush Creek in Otway, Ohio. It was constructed in 1874 by Robert W. Smith using his patent for the Smith through truss design and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The Otway Covered Bridge carries a local road over Scioto Brush Creek in Otway, Ohio. It was constructed in 1874 by Robert W. Smith using his patent for the Smith through truss design. Arches were added in 1896 for additional structural support, and later the bridge was shortened from 200 feet to 171 feet. In the 1920s, the crossing was modified when a polygonal Warren riveted pony truss was added on the northern approach.

In 1961, the aging Otway Covered Bridge was bypassed with a steel and concrete structure, although it remained open to limited local traffic and was maintained by the Otway Historical Society. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The Otway Covered Bridge underwent a major rehabilitation in 2014. ¹ Engineers Jones-Stuckey of Columbus were hired for the project, assisted from J. A. Barker Engineering from Bloomington, Indiana, nationally known covered bridge restoration experts. The Righter Company performed the work, which involved correcting a sag, correcting a horizontal alignment issue, and replacing damaged or deteriorated members. The bridge reopened in August 2014 following a celebration ceremony and ribbon cutting.

Information

• State: Ohio
• Route: Formerly OH Route 348
• Type: Covered Smith Truss
• Status: Active - Automobile
• Total Length: 171 feet
• Main Span Length: 127 feet

Sources

1. “Otway Covered Bridge.” Ohio History Connection, 2021.