Belknap Covered Bridge

The Belknap Bridge (also called the McKenzie River Bridge) spans the McKenzie River near the unincorporated community of Rainbow, about three miles west of McKenzie Bridge, which itself takes its name from the crossing. It is the fourth covered bridge to stand on this site: the first, built in 1890 by T. Thomson, was named for pioneer settler Rollin S. Belknap, discoverer of Belknap Hot Springs nine miles upstream. Traffic wore down that structure, prompting Lane County to replace it in 1911, then again in 1939. The third bridge was destroyed by the catastrophic Pacific Northwest flood of December 1964, and the current Howe truss span, designed by the Oregon Bridge Corporation of Springfield, opened in 1966. At 120 feet long with a single span rated for 39 short tons to accommodate logging trucks, it rests on concrete piers with weatherboard siding protecting the truss. Louvered windows were added in 1975 for interior light, the structure was strengthened and repaired in 1992, and a new roof was installed in 2002. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for its scenic beauty and role in Oregon transportation history, the bridge remains open to vehicle traffic and is maintained by Lane County's Engineering Division.